§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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. [23440]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 9 May 1995]: Within the Department, mobile telephone are used by staff whose duties involve travel away from the office or where personal safety may be compromised by the need to work 603W in isolated areas. The costs for each financial year for these services and the number of mobile telephones in use could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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. [23498]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 9 May 1995]: The Department has not identified any effective efforts it could make as a service consumer to prevent cloning of mobile telephones. The Department will be raising this matter with CCTA—the Government Centre for Information Systems—to establish what practical steps can be taken.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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. [23480]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 9 May 1995]: There is no evidence to suggest that any charges have been incurred as a result of cloning.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many mobile telephones being utilised by his Department have been cloned during the last 12 months. [23504]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 9 May 1995]: There is no evidence to suggest that any of the Department's mobile telephones have been cloned.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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. [23477]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 9 May 1995]: The Employment Department has made no representations to the Department of Trade and Industry concerning the need for legislation to prevent the cloning of mobile phones.