§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Education how many(a) portable telephones, (b) pagers and electronic bleepers and (c) car telephones are currently used by his Department; what are the annual costs of operating this equipment; and to which personnel it is made available.
§ Mr. ForthThe Department currently has in use 100 portable telephones, at a total annual rental of £27,000 plus 645W call charges, and 66 pagers, at a total annual running cost of £26,300. The portable telephones may be used in cars if a hands-free mount is fitted. It is not feasible to quote a separate figure for car telephones. Portable telephones and pagers are issued to key personnel in the Department who may need to be contacted urgently.