289 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the total number of mobile telephones issued to persons in her office or that of her Minister of State in the past 15 months; the rank of each user; if each user has a telephone allowance; the entire cost of the service including capital cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
291 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the cost, if any, in respect of travel and accommodation for programme managers, advisers, assistants or others attached to her office in the past 15 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 291 together.
The cost of staffing and overheads of my Office and the Office of the Minister of State at my Department amounted to £1,000,374 in 1993. The expenditure to date in 1994 is £250,093. I do not believe that the costs of giving detailed breakdowns of this information are justified by any benefit arising.
