Freephone MP Battle's cyber cynics in Brighton

Industry minister John Battle showed how IT saves money at last week's Labour party conference in Brighton.

Leeds-based Battle told a fringe meeting, Computing for Labour, that he used to wangle free phone calls for his constituency office using MPs' free telephone system.

Battle installed an online PC in his Commons office with a direct link to his constituency PC. To call the Commons from Leeds, he instructed the Westminster system to call him back.

Battle said he was later told this was no way for an MP to behave, but did not make clear whether the system was still in operation.