Government use of ‘Premium Rate’ phone lines

TYLER LAMENTS INADEQUATE RESPONSE

Lord Tyler today (Thursday) expressed his frustration at the continued use by Government Departments of ‘Premium Rate’ phone lines, charging citizens over-the-odds for calling their offices.

Following a series of recent answers to the Cornish Peer, it is abundantly clear that the Government’s action on this issue has been sorely inadequate. “The responses I have had so far are a real mixed bag, which demonstrate a total lack of a coordinated response”.

The DVLA states that it is “awaiting the outcome of the current OFCOM consultation and will comply with any changes made to the regulation”, whilst the at the Foreign Office “The 0870 number will continue to run in conjunction with the 0845 number for one year until it is discontinued.”

Lord Tyler commented “The OFCOM consultation does not finish until December which means that new guidelines will probably not be introduced until well into the New Year. Whilst it may be useful to phase one number out over a period of time, a year is surely excessive”.

Following extensive questioning from Lord Tyler to the Government as to why relatives of the victims of the July 7 London bombings were made to dial 0870 numbers, the Government was forced to admitted that it had immediately set up a review and changed its policy on future hotline numbers. At a London Assembly Committee Meeting, earlier this month the Metropolitan Police Commissioner apologised for using a national rate 0870 number for the casualty bureau hotline, which raised £30,000 profit for telecoms firms. This has since donated to charity and the Commissioner said the choice had been "inappropriate", and would not be repeated.

Government Departments have made millions from the lines, through so-called ‘revenue sharing’.  In Parliamentary Answers to Paul Tyler, Ministers have admitted that the DVLA raised £1.1m in the course of one year and nearly £102,000 through the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

“I sincerely hope that Government Departments that continue to raise revenue from these “premium rate” lines will pledge those monies to a good cause.”