Annuities: Telephone Services

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the Retirement Annuity Helpline 0845 366 7868 became operative; how many calls have been received; and what proportion of calls were unanswered in each of the last six months. (124745)

[holding answer 2 March 2007]: The Retirement Annuities helpline opened on 27 March 2006 to coincide with the first issue of annuity letters sent to customers.

With regards to the number of calls received and the proportion of calls unanswered, the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.