§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [97501]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThe Northern Ireland Office has purchased the following number of laptops:
(£) Year No. Laptops purchased Stolen Cost of laptops stolen 1996–97 25 1997–98 28 1998–99 34 1999–00 55 1 1,500.00 2000–01 30 2001–02 18 2002–03 17 1 1,500.00 Total: 207 Records show that the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland was provided with a laptop in 1999–2000. The current Secretary of State's special adviser has been provided with a laptop. Neither the current Secretary of State nor Ministers have laptops 531W provided by the Northern Ireland Office. In the period from 1999 to date Ministers' offices were provided with a total of seven laptops. Detailed information prior to 1999 is not available.
No laptops have been reported as lost. Two laptops have been reported as stolen.Each cost in the region of £1,500.
Laptops used by: Year Minister and special advisers (2 December 1999 to 11 February 2000 30 May 2000 to 14 October 2002) Officials Lost Stolen Cost of Laptops lost/stolen 1995–96 297 1996–97 314 1 1 2,000 1997–98 367 2 2,675 1998–99 415 1 1,546 1999–2000 8 814 2 1 3,812 2000–01 13 931 8 17 35,494 2001–02 12 1,114 9 10.745 2002–03 (to 17/02/03) 13 1,040 7 1 4,750