David Hickson was interviewed on Sky News to cover the Public Accounts Committee report into Government use of expensive telephone numbers.
Supporters and others are invited to refer to what was said, in context.

At 11 am on Wednesday 26 June, RIchard Burden MP will introduce a debate entitled “Cost of non-geographic telephone numbers used by Government” in the Westminster Hall chamber.

This briefing is issued to MPs and others, to provide an update on the position with public bodies using 084 telephone numbers.

John Healey MP has secured a written answer from a DWP Minister confirming that the DWP uses 130 different 0845 telephone numbers to benefit from Service Charges paid by those making enquiries. The release gives a breakdown and lists the services subject to a charge for enquiries. These include: The Pensions Service, Jobcentre Plus and all of the Allowances paid to those in need - Attendance, Disability Living, Maternity, Winter Fuel.

This is no longstanding legacy situation, as also included are the newly introduced Benefits Cap and the Employment and Support Allowance, which replaces Invalidity Benefit.

This comes at a time when a government consultation on plans to prohibit businesses from using customer enquiries phone numbers which include a Service Charge to the benefit of the person called is coming to a close. See - Consultation … closes on 1 November.

When these two items are taken together, they show a “re-balancing of the economy” that some may find distasteful. Consumers of private sector services are to be protected from being subjected to Service Charges, whereas those requiring the services of the state continue to be subjected to fees.