§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [23466]
§ Mr. Nelson[holding answer 9 May 1995]: The Treasury has made no representations to the Department of Trade and Industry.
57W
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what costs his Department 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; [23490]
(2) how many mobile telephones being utilised by his Department have been cloned during the last 12 months. [23426]
§ Mr. Nelson[holding answer 9 May 1995]: Two of the Treasury's mobile telephones have been cloned during the past 12 months. No costs were incurred in consequence, all unauthorised calls having been removed from the bill by the mobile telephone's airtime supplier.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [23450]
§ Mr. Nelson[holding answer 9 May 1995]: Mobile telephones are used by Treasury Ministers, senior officials and other staff whose duties regularly take them out of their offices but who still need to be contactable. Information relating to rental and call costs is available only for 1993–94 and 1994–95 and amounted to £13,100 and £14,400 respectively, excluding VAT. There are 32 mobile telephones currently in use in the Treasury.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [23457]
§ Mr. Nelson[holding answer 9 May 1995]: The Treasury is moving away from the use of analogue to the use of digital mobile telephones due to the greater protection against eavesdropping offered by the latter. Digital mobile telephones are thought to be immune to cloning; the matter has not been discussed with any official agency.