HC Deb 15 January 1996 vol 269 c412W
Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many mobile telephones have been supplied to his Department in each of the last eight years; and in each of those years how many different suppliers were involved. [8032]

Sir John Wheeler

The information relating to the Departments of Finance and Personnel, Economic Development, Agriculture and Education, and partial information relating to the Northern Ireland Office is as follows:

Mobile phones supplied Number of suppliers
1988–89 21 2
1989–90 5 1
1990–91 10 3
1991–92 8 2
1992–931 58 5
1993–941 48 3
1994–951 61 4
1995–961 73 4
1Information from Northern Ireland Office available from 1992–93 to 1995–96 only.

Annual information relating to the Departments of the Environment and Health and Social Services could be provided only at disproportionate cost; however, they have purchased a total of 259 mobile phones from three suppliers over the last eight years.