To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on the purchase of (a) recycled office supplies in the last 12 months and (b) printer ink cartridges in each of the last five years. (274568)

The information is as follows:

(a) Over the past 12 months (April 2008 to March 2009) the DWP spent approximately £10,402,244.00 on recycled office supplies (i.e. paper, cardboard products, box files, toner and ink cartridges).

(b) Over the past five years the DWP spend on printer ink cartridges is estimated to be:

Information for the period April 2004 to March 2006 cannot be determined without disproportionate cost.