To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will allocate an 0300 telephone prefix to the UK Border Agency’s telephone numbers in order to reduce the cost of telephone calls to mobile telephone users; and if he will estimate the likely level of savings to (a) his Department and (b) service users of introducing such a change. (278374)

The agency is currently reviewing moving all of its main contact centre numbers to 0300 numbers and has recently transferred its Sponsorship and Employer Helpline to an 0300 number.

From 1 August 2009 changes to 0870 numbers will come into effect. Ofcom has ruled that the cost to a caller of making an 0870 call must be the same as an 0300 call. UKBA callers will therefore be charged the same irrespective of whether they call an 0870 or an 0300 number from 1 August 2009.

The actual cost to the caller will depend upon their agreement with their service provider according to their geographic 01 or 02 rates, whether they call from a mobile or a landline.

The UK Border Agency does not receive revenue from 0870 or 0300 numbers.