To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider the merits of securing accreditation of his Department's helplines to The Helplines Association's quality standard; and if he will make a statement. (295724)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not have any plans at present to secure accreditation of the Department's telephone information lines to The Helplines Association's quality standard. However, we are continually seeking to improve the levels of service we provide to the public, and will investigate the benefits of such accreditation.