To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) mobile telephones, (b) Blackberrys and (c) laptop computers, were issued to staff of his Department in each of the last five years; and how many of these were issued to (i) new staff and (ii) existing staff following the (A) loss or (B) theft of a previous device. (290438)

The Department does not hold detailed historic information about its issue of mobile devices to staff, but with the advent of the new Human Resources System, Business Management System, and Asset Management tools, we can say that, as at the end of August 2009, the number of mobile assets allocated to staff or business unite was as follows:

Laptops: 2,431

Blackberry: 1,334

Mobile telephones: 1,008.

In addition the Department does not differentiate between devices issued to new staff or existing staff and therefore does not hold this information. However, the following table gives the number of devices lost or stolen in the last five years.