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Session X
2006-07

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asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will draw the attention of the Office of Fair Trading to the charging by telecommunications companies with minimal notice or consultation of a payment fee on telephone bills not paid by direct debit plus a late payment fee on bills which are not settled within...

Asked by
Lord Monson (Crossbench)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Date
24 October 2007
Reference
5660; 695 c121WA
House
House of Lords
Is the Minister aware that many people trying to claim benefits over the phone either cannot get through or are told that they will be called back even though they do not have a phone? The social fund commissioner's office found that fewer than one in five calls were answered, so will the Minister end the Government's complacency about the effect of the faceless state on people in real difficulties and ensure that those in particular need can either see a Jobcentre Plus official or have an official make the call on their behalf?
Asked by
Andrew Selous (Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Date
8 October 2007
Reference
464 c10
House
House of Commons
The benefit advisers do a very good job, but is it not fairly tacky to use such a system for people to apply for the assistance and help to which they are entitled? Would it not be better simply to ask that no Government Department anywhere in Whitehall continue the growing practice of using 0845 numbers? If people have already paid through their taxes to receive services from Her Majesty's Government which are of a high standard, no impediment should be placed in their way.
Asked by
Gwyneth Dunwoody (Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Date
8 October 2007
Reference
464 c10-1
House
House of Commons
I appreciate the enthusiasm that the hon. Gentleman brings to his post, but we do of course offer face-to-face interviews with Jobcentre Plus advisers in appropriate circumstances. The hon. Gentleman shakes his head, but I can assure him that that is the case. It is very clear in some application processes that a third person can speak on behalf of the applicant. More than 90 per cent. of calls are answered, but we are aware that we have to continue to review matters in order to ensure that the system is made even better. I take great exception to the hon. Gentleman's comment that this amounts to a ““faceless state””. We have a whole range of committed and dedicated benefit advisers across the country whose main job and principal occupation and commitment is to ensure that people get the help that they need at the time that they need it.
Answered by
Anne McGuire (Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Oral answers to questions
Date
8 October 2007
Reference
464 c10
House
House of Commons
With the utmost respect, may I say to my hon. Friend that we have discovered that contact centres are generally more convenient for customers to access, because they remove the need personally to go to a local jobcentre. On cost comparisons, I have already said that the cost of a land-line telephone call is 2p a minute. Again, with the greatest respect, I have to say that, in comparison with the cost of a bus or train journey to a local office, contact centres are appropriate for most people. Harking back to my response to the hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous), we will ensure that where people want an interview and in some instances a face-to-face application process we will deliver that.
Answered by
Anne McGuire (Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Oral answers to questions
Date
8 October 2007
Reference
464 c10-1
House
House of Commons
I am aware that some mobile phone companies charge significantly over the basic rate. We have had discussions with them, but their pricing policies are very much a matter for them. I want to give my hon. Friend some comfort, however. Since 1 August, the cost of an 0845 number on BT lines has fallen from 3p to 2p a minute. When someone calls our helpline, we are careful to make them aware how long the call will take, and to ensure that they are aware of the mobile phone charges that can accrue to the call. We then advise them that they can phone back on a land-line if they want to do so. If they cannot do that, our advisers will call them back. That ensures that nobody is disadvantaged because they cannot afford the price of a telephone call.
Answered by
Anne McGuire (Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Oral answers to questions
Date
8 October 2007
Reference
464 c10
House
House of Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by Ofcom.

Asked by
Lord Grayling (Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Date
8 October 2007
Reference
154665; 464 c348W
House
House of Commons
Some telecoms providers charge higher than normal rates for all 08 numbers, even so-called freephone numbers, which means that some unemployed Jobcentre Plus clients are paying charges that they cannot afford for the advice, information and assistance that they need. Will the Minister tell the House why those people cannot ring a local centre, at lower, local rates? Will she expand the review to which she has referred to include this issue, and reassure us that the Department is not receiving a rake-off from the excess charges generated at the moment?
Asked by
David Leslie Taylor (Labour; Co-operative Party)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Date
8 October 2007
Reference
464 c10
House
House of Commons
Jobcentre Plus conducted a review, which was completed in July, which investigated the inbound telephone numbering plan that supports the contact centre and benefit delivery centre operations. During the review, Ofcom's call numbering team was approached on an informal basis for advice on developing the Jobcentre Plus internal numbering strategy, particularly regarding the future tariff structures of the 0845 range.
Answered by
Anne McGuire (Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Oral answers to questions
Date
8 October 2007
Reference
464 c9
House
House of Commons
What recent discussion he has had with Ofcom on the charging policies of telecommunication companies toward the 0845 numbers used by Jobcentre Plus; and if he will make a statement.
Asked by
David Leslie Taylor (Labour; Co-operative Party)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Date
8 October 2007
Reference
464 c9; 156107
House
House of Commons
Type
House of Commons papers
Date
19 July 2007
Reference
HC 594 2006-07
House
House of Commons
Type
House of Commons papers
Notes
Research Sc in annual run;
Date
12 July 2007
Reference
HC 681 2006-07
House
House of Commons
Type
House of Commons papers
Date
9 July 2007
Reference
HC 642 2006-07
House
House of Commons

SI 2007/1933. (Negative instrument). Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Coming into force 30 July 2007.

Department
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Type
Statutory instruments
Date
9 July 2007
Reference
SI 2007/1933
House
House of Commons; House of Lords

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alistair Darling, has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. On 26 February 2007, I issued an intervention notice under Section 42(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 in respect of British Sky Broadcasting Group's acquisition of a 17.9 per...

Member
Lord Truscott (Labour)
Department
Department of Trade and Industry
Type
Written statements
Date
24 May 2007
Reference
692 c60-2WS
House
House of Lords

On 26 February 2007, I issued an intervention notice under section 42(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 in respect of British Sky Broadcasting Group’s acquisition of a 17.9 per cent. stake in ITV plc. This meant that, in accordance with sections 44 and 44A of the Enterprise Act, on 27...

Member
Lord Darling of Roulanish (Labour)
Department
Department of Trade and Industry
Type
Written statements
Date
24 May 2007
Reference
460 c90-1WS
House
House of Commons
Type
Select Committee reports; House of Commons papers; Parliamentary committees
Committee
Home Affairs Committee
Date
22 May 2007
Reference
HC 181 2006-07
House
House of Commons
Type
House of Commons papers; Select Committee oral evidence; Parliamentary committees
Committee
Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Date
15 May 2007
Reference
HC 316-vi 2006-07
House
House of Commons
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Is he aware that one of the worst aspects was the complacent attitude of Ofcom when questioned about it? Will he remind Ofcomthat the terrestrial channels are licensed for public entertainment and news, not gambling? Will he support the Gambling Commission, which has complained bitterly about the proliferation of phoney gambling quizzes on terrestrial channels, and tell Ofcom that it must pay attention to this and take much more drastic steps than it has planned?
Asked by
Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes (Conservative)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Date
1 May 2007
Reference
691 c962
House
House of Lords
Type
Select Committee reports; House of Commons papers; Parliamentary committees
Committee
Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Notes
Laid as HC 69 2006-07 by mistake but published as HC 509 2006-07
Date
1 May 2007
Reference
HC 509 2006-07
House
House of Commons