To ask Her Majesty's Government how many officials of the Northern Ireland Office have had their mobile phone expenses paid in full or in part by the office in each of the past five years; and what was the cost involved in each case. [HL1715]

The Northern Ireland Office (excluding agencies and Executive NDPBs) provides mobile phones for staff that need them for business purposes. A mobile phone policy is in place specifying criteria for the provision of mobile phones to staff and for the recoupment of personal calls. The total spend by the department on mobile phones over the past five years is given in the following table.

The decrease in spend in 2007-08 reflects a new contract for mobile phones which has reduced line rental costs considerably.