USE OF 0870 TELEPHONE NUMBERS BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS

Early day motion 622, tabled 19 July 2005 by Gregory Campbell (DUP). Signed by 61 members.

That this House notes the proliferation of 0870 prefix telephone numbers used by a range of Government Departments for members of the public to get in touch; recognises the fact that they can cost up to two and a half times more than regional numbers, and that in some cases departments make substantial profits from such numbers; further notes that last year the Government's Central Office of Information urged Departments not to use 0870 numbers as the cost could act as a barrier to communicating information that the citizen should have access to as a right; and calls upon the Government to take action to end this indefensible practice.

Signatures by party: Conservative 20, Labour 15, Liberal Democrat 12, DUP 5, Scottish National Party 5, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Respect 1, UUP 1.