How many mobile phones were used by (a) ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in each of its departments in each year since 1999…

The Scottish Executive has purchased 1,447 mobile phones over the past seven years for use by Ministers, special advisors and officials. The mobiles are purchased using a central government contract for the supply of mobile phones at a total cost of £58,714, which equates to an average cost of £40.58 per phone. The distribution of phones purchased in each year is as shown in the following table.
Mobile Phones Purchased in Each Year
Year
| 1999
| 2000
| 2001
| 2002
| 2003
| 2004
| 2005

No.
| 35
| 83
| 159
| 237
| 351
| 314
| 268

Cost (£)
| 487
| 945
| 7359
| 3531
| 16841
| 16193
| 13358


Information is not held centrally on the allocation of phones between Ministers, special advisors or officials, as this data is not recorded when phones are ordered.
The total number of mobile phones within the Executive which were reported as lost or stolen are as follows:
Mobile Phones Reported as Lost or Stolen in Each Year
Financial Year:
| 1999-2000
| 2000-01
| 2001-02
| 2002-03
| 2003-04
| 2004-05

Lost or stolen
| 2
| 7
| 1
| 1
| 3
| 4


The figures for both tables refer only to mobile phones procured through Scottish Executive contracts and not to other devices, such as personal digital assistants, which may include mobile phone functions.