§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) 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;
(2) what was the cost of calls made on (a) car and (b) portable telephones in 1993–94; how much this equipment cost to buy or hire; and what were the maintenance costs.
§ Mr. SproatThe Department of National Heritage currently has 17 portable telephones, nine pagers and two car phones in use. The cost of operating the above equipment in 1993–94 was £9,200 which included £2,000 pager line rental, £4,900 mobile/car phone line rental and £2,300 call charges. The total equipment cost in 1993–94 amounted to £800; there were no maintenance costs. The600W equipment is made available to Ministers, and officials where there is a requirement for mobile communications outside the office.