Skip to main content

Proceeding contribution from Rob Marris (Labour) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 5 December 2007. It occurred during Estimates day on Benefits Simplification.


Benefits Simplification

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman. Does he agree that paragraph 15 of the Government's response, on the 0845 numbers, is rather a weak response and that it is based on a misunderstanding? I understand that calls to 0845 numbers cost four or five times the cost of a regular landline call, so a local call on the regular landline might be 1p a minute whereas an 0845 call might be 5p a minute. We all know how long people may have to wait on the phone, and these interviews can be lengthy. Is he also aware that last December Lord Warner, who was then a Minister in the Department of Health, put out a circular specifically discouraging general practitioners' surgeries from using 0845 numbers? These numbers are another proliferation of back-door charging, but they are particularly distressing in respect of the Department for Work and Pensions, which deals with some of the most vulnerable and poorest people in our society.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
468 c907 
Session
2007-08
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Benefits rules Social security benefits Work and Pensions Committee Communities and Local Government Committee
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk