§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 9 May,Official Report, columns 9–10, what was the cost of calls made on mobile telephones in 1993–94; how much this equipment cost to buy or hire; and what were the maintenance costs.
§ Mr. HowardMobile telephone call charges in my Department, including executive agencies, are estimated to be about £90,000. All or nearly all mobile telephones are bought, at costs which vary from year to year and cannot be quantified except at disproportionate cost. Maintenance costs are small, as it is not deemed necessary to let maintenance contracts.