To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) mobile telephones and (b) BlackBerrys have been provided to (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department in (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10 to date; and at what cost to the public purse. (313172)

A BlackBerry was provided for the Secretary of State in February 2009 at a cost of £212 plus 15 per cent. VAT.

No other mobiles or BlackBerries were purchased for Ministers or special advisers in 2008-09 or 2009-10.