To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many laptop computers have been provided to (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants in his Department in each year since its creation; and at what cost. (268278)

Under the Department's ICT service provision contract, all staff are provided with laptop computers in place of desktop computers. Docking stations are provided on a hot desk basis in official buildings. The laptop is their only computer. The cost to the public purse is the standard charge for the ICT managed service provision.

The Department supports five Ministers, two special advisers, the Chief Scientific Officer and just over 1,000 civil servants. In 2008-09 the standard charge for ICT managed service provision was £1.7 million.