§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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. [98708]
§ Ms HewittThe table provides the information available from records on laptop computer usage and losses within my Department since 1995. Prior to 1998, the records available only provide figures for thefts and losses.
738WAlthough the Department still retains a number of its own laptop computers (1,338 at 31 December 2002), since 1 April 1999 the provision of a laptop computing service has been the responsibility of my Department's PFI partners. It is expected that most new laptop computer requirements will be met through the PFI service for the life of the PFI contract.
(a) Laptops1 (b) Laptops2 Losses Thefts Cost £ 2003 8 2,738 0 4 6,375 2002 8 2,588 1 24 31,760 2001 8 1,887 1 8 15,080 2000 5 1,733 1 5 5,900 1999 3— 1,325 0 5 5,110 1998 3— 778 1 5 9,100 1997 3— 3— 1 7 12,300 1996 3— 3— 0 2 3,000 1995 3— 3— 0 15 26,300 1 Used by Ministers and special advisers. 2 Used by officials. 3 Not available.