HC Deb 15 May 1995 vol 260 cc34-5W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many mobile telephones being utilised by his Department have been cloned during the last 12 months. [23435]

Sir John Wheeler

[holding answer 9 May 1995]: Three.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [23441]

Sir John Wheeler

[holding answer 9 May 1995]: Within the Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office, hand-held and car-based mobile telephones are 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.

The cost of these phones and the number currently in use are as follows:

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [23481]

Sir John Wheeler

[holding answer 9 May 1995]: None. Unauthorised calls on cloned phones are not paid for by the Department.