Departmental Theft

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many thefts from his Department have been recorded in the last two years. (318986)

During the period 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2009, 207 items were reported as missing on this Department's and its predecessors central London estate. The Department records items as missing as it is not always possible to prove theft as the reason for the loss of items and many items reported are subsequently found.

The figure includes small, low value personal items.