Michael Dugher MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, responding to a Public Accounts Committee report finding that public calls to government departments have been charged at premium rates, said:

“Ministers should take action against rip-off phone charges to government.  It makes no sense to have the most expensive charges for vital phone calls.  Those who seek access to government services are often those most in need and yet they are being made to pay extortionate call rates.

"The Cabinet Office may have set up a group to ‘consider’ customer telephone lines, but no action has been taken.  It is essential that we now see concrete steps to bring down costs for the public.  As well as cheaper charges, this needs to include less waiting times and more accessible information on the charges people can expect.

"This Government is out of touch with the cost of living crisis. They must take action in all areas to help hard-working families- and they must do so as a matter of urgency”.