HC Deb 09 May 1995 vol 259 cc352-3W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what use his Department makes of hand-held and car-based mobile telephones; what were the costs for each financial year of these services since mobile telephones were first introduced to his Department; and how many mobile telephones are currently in use. [23447]

Mr. Norris

The Department has 351 hand-held mobile telephones and 25 car telephones. The equipment is issued on the basis of operational need, especially where staff have to work away from the office. The main users of the equipment are staff in the Coastguard agency, the Highways Agency, the Vehicle Inspectorate, the aircraft accidents investigation branch and ministerial offices. Figures are not available centrally for annual operating costs.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many mobile telephones being utilised by his Department have been cloned during the last 12 months. [23429]

Mr. Norris

Four hand-held telephones were cloned during the last 12 months.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department has made to the Department of Trade and Industry concerning the need for legislation to prevent the cloning of mobile telephones. [23468]

Mr. Norris

No representations have been made to the DTI concerning the need for legislation to prevent the cloning of mobile telephones.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what costs his Department has incurred during the last 12 months as a result of cloning of mobile telephones being utilised by his Department, with particular reference to the making of unauthorised calls. [23487]

Mr. Norris

The cost of unauthorised calls made due to cloning is estimated at £500. However, this is not a cost to the Department as all mobile telephone airtime suppliers accept that the costs of unauthorised calls on cloned telephones are not charged to users.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to prevent the cloning of telephones being utilised by his Department; and if his Department has discussed this matter with any official agencies. [23453]

Mr. Norris

Cloning of existing analogue phones is impossible to prevent. However, mobile telephone airtime suppliers have mechanisms in place to detect suspicious activity and the majority of clonings are detected early enough to stop serious misuse. No discussions have been held with official agencies. My Department has a policy of migration from the old analogue telephones, which are susceptible to cloning, to the new digital networks on which cloning is technically impossible.