HC Deb 03 April 2003 vol 402 c826W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many laptop computers were used by(a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in her Department in each year since 1995; how many were (i) lost and (ii) stolen; what their cost was; and if she will make a statement. [98709]

Mrs. Liddell

The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.

Since that date, the numbers of laptops used are as follows:

1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03
Ministers 2 2 1 1
Special Advisers 2 2 2 2
Officials 3 11 13 16

One laptop computer was stolen from the department in 1999–2000. It had an approximate value of £2,200 at the time of purchase.