To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 3 November 2009, Official Report, column 801W, on departmental telephone services, whether contracts were awarded for the provision of services relating to helplines. (324112)

With reference to the answer of 3 November 2009, Official Report, column 801W, and from information held centrally a contract was awarded to Vertex Data Science Ltd. on 18 October 2008 for a period of five years, to expire 17 October 2013. The helpline contract provides a single point of contact for all DEFRA general inquiries.