To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) male and (b) female members of staff working in his Department were issued with personal digital assistants in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement. (181398)

[holding answer 24 January 2008]: The information as requested is not readily available centrally within the Department for Children, Schools and Families. To respond fully would involve an information collection exercise that would exceed the recommended disproportionate cost threshold. However, to be helpful, some information is available.

Central procurement records show that the following quantities of personal digital assistants have been purchased by the Department, and its predecessor, the Department for Education and Skills, since 2001. There is no information available centrally to show the number of devices in use by (a) male or (b) female members of staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) mobile telephones, (b) personal digital assistants and (c) laptop computers issued to staff in his Department or its predecessor were reported (i) lost, (ii) missing and (iii) stolen in each year since 2001. (184349)

The number of items reported as lost, missing, or stolen are as follows: