HC Deb 25 February 2003 vol 400 c477W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many laptop computers were used by(a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in his Department in each year since 1995; how many were (i)lost and (ii) stolen; what their cost was; and if he will make a statement. [98704]

Ms Rosie Winterton

Prior to 1999 the figures for laptops supplied for use in my Department cannot be produced without incurring disproportionate cost. The figures for the years from 1999 onwards are as follows:

Laptops supplied
(a) Ministers and special advisers (b)Officials
1999 2 674
2000 2 693
2001 2 689
2002 2 706

The figures for (i) lost and (ii) stolen laptops are as follows:

Laptops lost and stolen
(i)Lost (ii)Stolen Cost(£)
1995 9
1996 12
1997 2
1998 4 4,300
1999 2 1,200
2000 3 2,500
2001 1 15 22,500
2002 14 19,600

Note:

Only officials'laptops have been lost or stolen; we do not have any figures for costs before 1998.

The Department is actively promoting guidance on the security of IT equipment, increasing staff awareness in this area.