§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what use his Department makes of hand-held and car-based mobile telephones; what were the costs for each financial year of these services since mobile telephones were first introduced to his Department; and how many mobile telephones are currently in use. [23451]
§ Mr. Goodlad[holding answer of 9 May 1995]: We supply mobile phones to individuals and departments where this enhances the effectiveness of their work. We cannot provide a breakdown of costs prior to 1993 without incurring disproportionate cost. Costs for the financial years since are:
11993–94 11994–95 £ £ 80,415 116,302.36 1 Aid wing figures not available. There are 195 hand-portable sets and 11 car phones in use within the diplomatic and aid wings of the FCO.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Department of Trade and Industry concerning the need for legislation to prevent the cloning of mobile telephones. [23470]
§ Mr. Goodlad[holding answer of 9 May 1995]: Neither the FCO nor the ODA has made representations to the DTI regarding the need for legislation to prevent the cloning of mobile telephones.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to prevent the cloning of telephones being utilised by his Department; and if his Department has discussed this matter with any official agencies. [23456]
§ Mr. Goodlad[holding answer 9 may 1995]: The FCO understands there are no commercially available means to prevent cloning. For its part, the Department has initiated thorough checks of itemised billing to ensure unusual call patterns and excessive costs are highlighted and investigated. Additionally, international calls are barred wherever possible.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many mobile telephones being utilised by his Department have been cloned during the last 12 months. [23425]
§ Mr. Goodlad[holding answer 9 May 1995]: This Department has had 10 mobile telephones cloned between November 1994 and April 1995. The ODA has had none.
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§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what costs his Department has incurred during the last 12 months as a result of cloning of mobile telephones being utilised by his Department, with particular reference to the making of unauthorised calls. [23491]
§ Mr. Goodlad[holding answer 9 May 1995]: This Department has not incurred any costs for the unauthorised use or reprogramming of cloned telephones. All identified costs—approximately £4,000—have been absorbed by the cellular telephone companies.