(2) how many (a) Blackberrys and (b) other mobile telephones have been provided to (i) Ministers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) civil servants in his Department in each year since its establishment.
Blackberry devices and mobile phones are provided to individuals while they are in post, and are recovered when the individual leaves.
The Department currently provides a total of 222 Blackberry devices, split as follows:
Number (i) Ministers 3 (ii) Special Advisers 2 (iii) Civil Servants 217
At the end of 2007/08, the Department was providing 182 Blackberry devices, split as follows:
Number (i) Ministers 4 (ii) Special Advisers 2 (iii) Civil Servants 176
The Department currently provides a total of 256 mobile phones, split as follows:
Number (i) Ministers 3 (ii) Special Advisers 2 (iii) Civil Servants 251
At the end of 2007/08, the Department was providing 56 mobile phones, split as follows:
Number (i) Ministers 4 (ii) Special Advisers 2 (iii) Civil Servants 50
The cost of these devices is as follows:
£ Blackberrys Initial cost 136 Monthly cost 19.50 Mobile phones Monthly cost 2.50
An analysis of the cost of calls split across the categories requested could be achieved only at disproportionate cost. The overall cost of calls for 2008/09 is £256,469 which is the cost of all Blackberry, mobile phone and 3G data card provision, once the regular monthly costs have been subtracted.