HC Deb 07 July 2000 vol 353 c342W
Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) mobile telephones and (b) pagers are used by (i) the Minister for Europe and (ii) his officials; and what the cost was of (a) the mobile telephones and pagers and (b) calls made on the mobile telephones during the last year for which figures are available, identifying separately the figure for calls to non-UK telephone numbers. [129251]

Mr. Battle

It is imperative for the Minister for Europe to remain in close contact both at home and overseas. The Minister is provided with one mobile telephone. His officials have three. There is also a mobile telephone in the ministerial car. FCO mobile telephone line rental and call costs are at competitive commercial rates.

To provide details of the costs incurred would be in breach of commercial confidentiality.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) mobile telephones and (b) pagers are used by his Department; and what the cost was of (i) the mobile telephones and pagers and (ii) calls made on mobile telephones during the last year for which figures are available, identifying separately the cost for calls to non-UK telephone numbers and the persons to whom the facility is made available. [129252]

Mr. Battle

It is imperative for the FCO's staff to remain in close contact both at home and overseas. In the UK the FCO has 900 mobile telephones and 253 pagers. FCO mobile telephone line rental and call costs are at competitive commercial rates.

To provide details of the costs incurred would be in breach of commercial confidentiality.