Telephones (Hansard, 9 May 1995)

§ Mr. Donohoe
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what use her 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 her Department; and how many mobile telephones are currently in use. [23436]

§ Mr. Sackville
Mobile telephones are issued to mainly medical, scientific, professional and managerial staff who are required to maintain contact with the Department and the national health service when travelling or while out of normal working hours. Some 500 mobile telephones were in use in 1993–94 at an annual running cost of £302,000. For 1994–95, the corresponding figures are 477 mobile telephones at a cost of £288,000. Figures are not available prior to 1993–94.

§ Mr. Donohoe
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mobile telephones used by her Department have been cloned during the last 12 months. [23503]

§ Mr. Sackville
Four.

§ Mr. Donohoe
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations her Department has made to the Department of Trade and Industry concerning the need for legislation to prevent the cloning of mobile telephones. [23479]

§ Mr. Sackville
None.

§ Mr. Donohoe
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what costs her Department has incurred during the last 12 months as a result of cloning of mobile telephones being used by her Department, with particular reference to the making of unauthorised calls. [23495]

§ Mr. Sackville
None. The mobile telephone air time providers have not charged the Department for calls made by cloned telephones.

§ Mr. Donohoe
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department has taken to prevent the cloning of telephones being used by her Department; and if her Department has discussed this matter with any official agencies. [23465]

§ Mr. Sackville
Since cloning has not been a significant problem experienced in the Department, no preventive advice has yet been issued and no discussions have taken place with any official agencies.