HC Deb 17 January 1996 vol 269 cc590-1W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what costs his Department and executive agencies have incurred as a result of withdrawing from contracts under which mobile phones are provided; and if he will list the companies concerned. [9757]

Mr. Hanley

Within this current financial year, 11 mobile phones have been withdrawn from service at an estimated total cost of £750 for contractual disconnection charges. The companies involved were Cellcom Ltd. (seven), British Telecom Mobile Communications (two) and VODAC Ltd. (two) Most disconnections result from obsolete or damaged equipment.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what agreements his Department and its executive agencies have with companies for the provision of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost to public funds of each agreement. [9755]

Mr. Hanley

Service contracts of 12 months duration have been awarded to the following companies:

  • VODAC Ltd.
  • VODACOM Ltd.
  • British Telecom Mobile Communications
  • Motorola Telco Ltd.
  • Cellular One Ltd.
  • Direct Mobile Communications Ltd.
  • DVH Communications Ltd.

Operating costs for the current financial year in respect of 217 phones, including call charges and monthly line rental/airtime totalled £83,200.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures were used by his Department in awarding contracts for the supply of mobile and car phones to his Department and its executive agencies; and which companies were involved in tendering for these contracts. [9756]

Mr. Hanley

Service contracts are awarded to companies submitting the most competitive bid and offering the best value for money. The following companies have variously been involved:

  • VODAC Ltd.
  • VODACOM Ltd.
  • DVH Communications Ltd.
  • BT Mobile Services
  • Bradford Mobile Phone Company
  • DX Mobile Phones
  • K1 Mobile Phones
  • Mercury Mobile Services
  • Motorola Telco Ltd.
  • NAG Telecom
  • Woodend Communications.

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