HC Deb 03 March 2003 vol 400 c838W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many laptop computers were used by(a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in his Department in each year since 1995; how many were (i) lost and (ii) stolen; what their cost was; and if he will make a statement. [98705]

Ruth Kelly

Current Treasury records simply assign ownership of laptops and other small equipment to Budget centres within the Department, and so a distinction between(a) and (b) is not made.

Year Stock Cost/£ Stolen
<1995 111 194,030 2
1996 + 145 299,421 1
1997 + 59 132,982 3
1998 + 15 33,967 1
1999 +111 221,801 2
2000 + 135 301,497 1
2001 + 100 168,543 2
2002 +35 69,053 5

Notes:

  1. 1. All recorded losses of laptops have been due to theft. The figure for 2002 does not include 16 old and redundant laptops that were removed without authorisation from a temporary stockroom during the move to new accommodation.
  2. 2. The totals above indicate acquisitions and do not reflect the actual number in use, which is affected by occasional stock holding and by old equipment being replaced with newer models. At present the number of laptops supported is about 300.