Mobile Telephones and Pagers

HC Deb 10 May 1994 vol 243 c126W

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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.

Sir John Wheeler

The information requested is as follows:

1. (a) Portable. Telephones—258;
2. (b) Pagers and electronic bleepers—310;
3. (c) Car telephones—75.

The cost of operating this equipment for the 1993–94 financial year is estimated at £146,000. The equipment is used by senior management, private office staff, security personnel, press officers, car pool/official drivers and other staff whose duties require them to be frequently absent from their base and who are required to maintain contact.