Jobcentre Plus (Telecoms Charges)

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Work and Pensions – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 8 October 2007.

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Photo of Anne McGuire Anne McGuire The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 2:30, 8 October 2007

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 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.