§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of subscriptions to(a) digital terrestrial, (b) digital satellite and (c) digital cable television held by his Department for services in any departmental building from which Ministers work, stating for each subscription its (i) cost and (ii) purpose. [48357]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The Home Department does not pay any subscription to (a) digital terrestrial and (b) digital satellite television. The Department does pay subscriptions to (c) digital cable television used in a departmental building from which Ministers work. Use of these services is limited to Ministers' private offices, the Legal Advisers Branch and the Communications Directorate. Details of cost and purpose are as follows:
- Subscription: 37 digital cable subscriptions £420.00.
- Cost per year: £15.540.00.
- Purpose: To monitor upcoming and breaking news, and parliamentary news to brief Ministers.
Private offices which support Home Office Ministers, pay an annual maintenance cost of £1,231 for a range of services, including a live feed from the Commons and Lords chambers, and access to House of Commons/ Lords annunciator.