In October 2015 the Government published guidance on department\u2019s use of telephone prefixes and free numbers which can be found here:<\/p>
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/470411/20151006_Customer_phone_lines_draft_guidance_October_2015.pdf<\/a><\/p> Departments are responsible and accountable for their choice of number prefix, supported by an appropriate numbering policy position. Where appropriate, departments must justify exceptions to the guidance.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3988", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ben Gummer"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ipswich"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Ben Gummer"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-01-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-01-23T09:55:41.067Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-01-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Government Departments: Telephone Services"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to introduce 0800 and other free numbers for public helpline services to government departments and agencies; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Royston Smith"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Southampton, Itchen"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Royston Smith"}
], "uin" : "59904"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/672675", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/672675/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Government develops services based on research into user needs. Services do not go public unless they can demonstrate during Service Assessment<\/a> that they have met user needs in line with the Digital Service Standard<\/a>, including methods for user support and contact. Where Government has a shared need, the Government Digital Service can develop products that can be reused across departments and agencies. For example, GOV.UK<\/a> Notify was developed to make it easier and more efficient to keep people updated, by helping service teams across government to send text messages, emails or letters to their users. We do not currently have plans to develop a texting service for users to contact or respond to helpline services.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3988", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ben Gummer"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ipswich"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Ben Gummer"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-01-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-01-23T16:56:25.53Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-01-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Government Departments: Mobile Phones"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans the Government has to introduce a texting service for the public to contact or respond to helpline services to government departments and agencies; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Royston Smith"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Southampton, Itchen"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Royston Smith"}
], "uin" : "59905"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/672676", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/672676/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Since 2007, UK households have reduced debt relative to income by the second largest amount in the G7. The household debt-to-income ratio was 144% in Q3 2016, down from a high of 160% in Q1 2008. Almost three quarters of household debt is secured against housing. Unsecured debt as a share of household income is now 40% (Q3 2016), down from its peak of 44% before the financial crisis (Q1 2007).<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3929", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Simon Kirby"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Brighton, Kemptown"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Simon Kirby"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-01-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-01-19T15:28:10.547Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-01-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Debts"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate his Department has made of the average level of personal debt.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4006", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hendon"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Matthew Offord"}
], "uin" : "59915"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/672678", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/672678/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government keeps all taxes under review, including alcohol duties, and is always willing to consider any evidence in relation to alcohol taxation policy.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3918", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jane Ellison"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Battersea"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jane Ellison"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-01-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-01-23T15:58:52.09Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-01-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Beer: Excise Duties"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the higher rate of duty on high-strength beer introduced in 2011 on reducing consumption of that beer; and what assessment he has made of the potential effectiveness of similar measures in reducing the consumption of high-strength cider.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3958", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Fiona Bruce"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Congleton"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Fiona Bruce"}
], "uin" : "59920"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/672684", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/672684/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The apprenticeship levy, will be a charge on all employers across the UK who have a paybill greater than £3 million. It is forecast to yield £2.6 billion in 2017-18, £2.7 billion in 2018-19 and £2.8 billion in 2019-20.<\/p> In 2016, the then Chancellor, in a letter to the Treasury Select Committee, set out an estimate of the impact of the apprenticeship levy on public sector bodies. This was published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-from-chancellor-to-chairman-of-treasury-select-committee-on-the-apprenticeship-levy.<\/p> <\/p> Sub-national forecasts of the contribution made by public bodies and NHS trusts have not been made. The Scottish Government and the other devovled administrations will each receive a population share of the apprenticeship levy forecast as set out here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-agrees-apprenticeship-levy-funding-deal-with-devolved-administrations.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3918", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jane Ellison"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Battersea"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jane Ellison"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-01-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "59960"}
, {"_value" : "59961"}
, {"_value" : "59962"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-01-18T16:57:14.55Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-01-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Apprentices: Taxation"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of sums to be accrued to the public purse from the apprenticeship levy on public sector bodies in each of the next three years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4364", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Callum McCaig"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Aberdeen South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Callum McCaig"}
], "uin" : "59976"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/672685", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Culture, Media and Sport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/672685/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The local press is a crucial source of information for local communities and a vital part of a healthy democracy.<\/p> <\/p> In the March 2016 budget the government announced the introduction of a £1,500 business rates discount for local newspapers for two years from 1 April 2017. The government's response and guidance regarding the business rates relief was published on 2 December 2016. More information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-case-for-a-business-rates-relief-for-local-newspapers<\/p> <\/p>