High time someone asked this sort of question:
speaker:Oliver Letwin : 1 Written Answer
========================================Written Answers - Treasury: Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services (26 Oct 2009)
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2009-10-26a.295035.h&s=speaker%3A10355#g295035.q0
Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Revenue
and Customs (HMRC) accrued revenue in the last three months from callers
to HMRC 08 telephone numbers being kept on line while waiting to be
answered.
But the answer?
Stephen Timms (Financial Secretary, HM Treasury; East Ham, Labour)
HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) centrally managed network of contact centres has received no revenue in respect of its use of 08 telephone numbers. HMRC’s contact centre policy is to provide as quick and efficient service as possible.
Hang on- so does HMRC get 08 numbers for free? Or does BT keep the revenue?