§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) portable telephones, (b) pagers and electronic bleepers and (c) car telephones are currently used by her Department; what are the annual costs of operating this equipment; and to which personnel it is made available.
§ Mr. SackvilleThere are 500 portable telephones, some of which are car telephones, and 460 pagers in use in the Department. The annual operating cost of this equipment is approximately £412,000. Authorised users, who are mainly medical, scientific, professional and managerial staff, represent fewer than one in five of the departmental total. These facilities are required to enable them to maintain necessary contact with the Department and the national health service when travelling or while out of normal working hours.