To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps her Department is taking to ensure the provision of access to freephone Government helplines in Jobcentre Plus offices for benefit claimants; and if she will make a statement. (278372)

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will instruct Jobcentre Plus to ensure all calls to social fund offices are free of charge to customers using either landline or mobile telephones. (282636)

The Department believes strongly that calls to its 0800 numbers should be free to mobile phone users as they already are to callers from landlines. Officials from the Department have accordingly held discussions with the Telephone Helplines Association, and with mobile telephone operators, seeking to secure the Department’s customers a free service when contacting the Department’s 0800 numbers via a mobile phone. These discussions are continuing.