To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 12 November 2009, Official Report, columns 937-8W, on departmental telephone services, whether contracts were let for the provision of services relating to the helplines run by its agencies. (324118)

With reference to the answer of 12 November 2009, Official Report, columns 937-8W, on departmental telephone services, the answer as to whether executive agencies of the Home Department let contracts for the provision of services relating to the helplines is as follows:

(a) following procurement competition the operation of the Identity and Passport Service's helplines are contracted to Teleperformance;

(b) the Criminal Records Bureau's helplines are operated as part of the services provided under its contract with Capita Business Services Ltd/ for disclosure processing; and

(c) the United Kingdom Border Agency has not let contracts for the provision of services relating to helplines.