§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what use his department makes of hand-held and car-based mobile telephones; what were the costs for each financial year of those services since mobile498W telephones were first introduced to his department; and how many mobile telephones are currently in use. [23449]
§ Mr. Howard[holding answer 9 May 1995]: There are about 1,400 mobile telephones in use in my department, including the executive agencies. Fewer than 50 of these are installed in cars. Mobile telephones are used mainly by operational staff in HM Prison Service and HM immigration service who need to maintain immediate contact with their offices or other officials. Current costs were about £580,000 in 1994–95 and about £495,000 in 1993–94. Figures for capital costs and for previous years are not available.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [23455]
§ Mr. Howard[holding answer 9 May 1995]: The cloning of analogue mobile telephones can be detected, but not prevented. Cloning will cease to be a problem as my Department changes from analogue to digital telephones over the next three years. There have been no discussions, other than with the mobile telephone operators.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what cost 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. [23489]
§ Mr. Howard[holding answer 9 May 1995]: None. Any such costs have been borne by the mobile telephone operators.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mobile telephones being utilised by his Department have been cloned during the last 12 months. [23427]
§ Mr. Howard[holding answer 9 May 1995]: Twelve.