§ Dr. CableTo 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 WintertonPrior 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.