HC Deb 14 April 2003 vol 403 c502W
Mr. Hammond

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many mobile phones have been used and at what cost by(a) himself and Ministers in his Department, (b) special advisers in his Department and (c) his departmental officials in each year since 1997. [98575]

Mr. Leslie

Since the creation of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 29 May 2002, the number of mobile phones used by Ministers, special advisers and departmental officials and their costs are set out in the following table.

Number of mobile phones Cost (£)
Ministers 3 1,454
Special advisers 1 617
Departmental officials 1Records not held 1Records not held
centrally centrally
1Records on mobile phones are not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost—the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently in the process of compiling a comprehensive list following the Machinery of Government changes.