To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) mobile telephones and (b) BlackBerrys were provided to (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department in 2009; and at what cost to the public purse. (313174)

At the start of 2009 a total of nine BlackBerries and one car phone were in operation. Ministers had a total of six BlackBerries and one car phone assigned between them. Special advisers were allocated a total of three BlackBerries

After the reshuffle in June the total was reduced to four BlackBerries, one mobile phone and one car phone. Ministers had two BlackBerries, one mobile phone and one car phone in use between them. Special advisers were allocated a total of two BlackBerries.

Our billing cycle runs quarterly from 1 December to 30 November. Provision and usage of mobile phones for Ministers and special advisors over the 12-month period 1 December 2008 to 30 November 2009 has cost £7,263.56. This is broken down as follows:

Provision and usage of mobile phones for Ministers: £6,246.53

Provision and usage of mobile phones for special advisers: £1,017.03.

December 2009 expenditure will appear on our February statement.