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At the first stroke, MoD staff will be banned from calling the speaking clock At the first stroke, MoD staff will be banned from calling the speaking clock
(40 minutes later)
In the military, precision is everything. On combat operations, every second counts. In the military, precision is everything. Every second counts on combat operations, and accurate intelligence is vital.
The drill of synchronising watches may be part of the culture at the Ministry of Defence, but from next week, it will never be quite the same again. But from next week staff at the Ministry of Defence are going to have to use their initiative when synchronising watches or gathering contacts.
The department is to ban the use of the speaking clock and directory inquiries, after discovering soldiers and civilians in the department spent £163,000 on the services last year. The department is banning the use of the speaking clock and directory inquiries, after learning soldiers and civilian staff spent £163,000 on the services last year.
While the MoD demands punctuality and reliability in all matters, it would rather it didn't come at this cost. An order has been issued to personnel at all MoD buildings warning that from the end of next week, the numbers for both services will be barred.
So an order from on high has been issued to personnel at all MoD buildings warning that from the end of next week, the numbers for both services will be barred.
Instead, staff have been given the addresses of relevant websites if they want to check the time, or find a number.Instead, staff have been given the addresses of relevant websites if they want to check the time, or find a number.
It is the latest sign of austerity at the MoD, which is making thousands of people redundant, and depriving those that remain of free coffee and biscuits. It is the latest sign of austerity at the MoD, which is making thousands of staff redundant, and depriving those that remain of free coffee and biscuits.
Those perks disappeared last year along with the fleet of Harrier jump jets and an aircraft carrier, as the department made desperate attempts to balance its books.Those perks disappeared last year along with the fleet of Harrier jump jets and an aircraft carrier, as the department made desperate attempts to balance its books.
The memo sent last week makes clear that cost is behind the latest measure. According to its own figures, the military spent £23,990 on the speaking clock last year – almost 80,000 calls at 30p a time. It spent another £139,000 on directory inquiry calls.The memo sent last week makes clear that cost is behind the latest measure. According to its own figures, the military spent £23,990 on the speaking clock last year – almost 80,000 calls at 30p a time. It spent another £139,000 on directory inquiry calls.
"Following investigation into the costs associated with calls to the speaking clock and the various civilian enquiries numbers it has been decided to bar these numbers from 1 March on a trial basis," the directive explains. "Following investigation into the costs associated with calls to the speaking clock and the various civilian enquiries numbers it has been decided to bar these numbers from 1 March on a trial basis," the directive explains.
"Although the potential inconvenience is recognised, the availability of other information sources, particularly the [internet], means that the £160,000 annual cost for these services needs to be challenged."Although the potential inconvenience is recognised, the availability of other information sources, particularly the [internet], means that the £160,000 annual cost for these services needs to be challenged.
"Calls to these numbers will be barred for a trial period of three months at which point a final decision and alternative arrangements for those units with genuine business reasons for either of these services will be put in place.""Calls to these numbers will be barred for a trial period of three months at which point a final decision and alternative arrangements for those units with genuine business reasons for either of these services will be put in place."
Anyone complaining about the new arrangement will have to "out" themselves. "If this directive impacts on your day to day business, please email your concerns to the Telephone Services Group Mailbox," the message concludes. Anyone complaining about the new arrangements will have to "out" themselves to superiors.
"The feedback will be collated and forwarded to Networks to assist in their decision at the end of the trial period re providing special arrangements but only for those who have a genuine business need." The message concludes: "If this directive impacts on your day to day business, please email your concerns to the Telephone Services Group Mailbox.
Insiders at the MoD pointed out that the Metropolitan police spent £250,000 on the speaking clock and directory inquiry numbers last year, so the department had actually been quite frugal. And while they insisted time checks remained an essential part of military manoeuvres, the alternative arrangements wouldn't affect punctuality. "The feedback will be collated and forwarded to Networks to assist in their decision at the end of the trial period re  providing special arrangements but only for those who have a genuine business need."
Insiders at the MoD pointed out that the Metropolitan police spent £250,000 on the speaking clock and directory inquiry numbers last year, so the department had actually been relatively frugal.
They stressed that time checks remained an essential part of military manoeuvres and insisted that the new arrangements would not affect punctuality.
An MoD spokesman added: "The speaking clock and 118 numbers have now been blocked and we are committed to reducing such costs."An MoD spokesman added: "The speaking clock and 118 numbers have now been blocked and we are committed to reducing such costs."