§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many computers were replaced in his Department in each of the past three years; how the replaced units were disposed of and by which companies; and at what cost. [60758]
436W
§ Mr. LammyIn the last three financial years the Department has replaced the following numbers of personal computers:
- 700 personal computers in 1999–2000.
- 1,543 personal computers in 2000–01.
- 654 personal computers in 2001–02.
Figures for individual offices are not available for financial year 1999–2000. For the following two financial years, figures for the Department's regional offices are as follows:
Number of PCs replaced
2000–01 site South East and London regional offices 190 Eastern regional office 64 North West regional office 106 Northern and Yorkshire regional office 138 South West regional office 94 Trent regional office 80 West Midlands regional office 62 2001–02 regional office South East and London regional offices 67 Eastern regional office 18 North West regional office 7 Northern and Yorkshire regional office 11 South West regional office 20 Trent regional office 29 West Midlands regional office 21 Note:
These figures exclude any replacement of equipment not funded from central departmental budgets.
Disposal
The Department normally disposes of personal computers to commercial companies who formally bid for, refurbish and resell the equipment, or break it down for spare parts. Successful companies have included OCM Business Systems Ltd., Metro Systems Ltd., and Computer Disposal and Recycling Ltd. The Department obtains a small income from this process.
Whenever practicable and bearing in mind the condition of the equipment, the Department also gives a small number of redundant personal computers to schools and charitable organisations.