§ Mr. LazarowiczTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many telephone helplines are sponsored by his Department; and which, of these helplines are charged at(a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate. [95720]
§ Dr. MoonieThe Ministry of Defence sponsors many telephone helplines, covering a wide variety of subjects. The primary helplines for all general inquiries are the MOD Public Enquiry Office on 0870 607 4455 and the Welsh Language Public Enquiry Office on 01554 821 413. Both of these numbers are charged at the national rate.
The main helplines which provide advice on specific subjects are:
441W
Helpline Number Charged at Low Flying Helpdesk 020 7218 6020 National rate Gulf Veterans Advice Unit 0800 169 4495 Freephone 020 7395 2375 National rate Medical Assessment Programme Helpline 0800 169 5401 Freephone Porton Down Volunteers Helpline 0800 783 2521 Freephone Veterans Agency Helpline 0800 169 2277 Freephone Defence Vetting Agency Helpline 01904 662 644 National rate Defence Suppliers Service Helpline 0117 913 2844 National rate 0800 282 324 Freephone Royal Navy recruiting helpline 0845 607 5555 Local rate Army recruiting helpline 08457 300 111 Local rate RAF recruiting helpline 0845 605 5555 Local rate TA recruiting helpline 0845 605 5555 Local rate Meteorological Office helpline 0845 300 0300 Local rate
Helpline Number Charged at Defence Estates— Disposal of MOD Land 0121 311 2015 National rate SaBRE (Support Britain's Reservists And Employers) 0800 389 5459 Freephone The above list is not exhaustive and does not include those helplines created specifically for serving military and civilian personnel and their dependants. Nor does it include those helplines that may from time to time be administered by individual units or establishments to provide advice on local or short term issues. Information on this is not held centrally and could be provided only with disproportionate cost.