The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has lost 248 laptops and 121 mobile phones over the past six years, the government has revealed.

On average, 41 notebooks will be reported as lost, missing or stolen over a single 12-month period, according to newly released figures. Last year the total for absent laptops was 15, down from 28 in 2006.

The department also lost 19 PDAs during 2007. The DWP had previously fared better with its retention of the handheld devices, losing just one in 2004.

The figures were provided by work and pensions minister Anne McGuire, in response to questions from Sarah Teather, shadow business secretary for the Liberal Democrats.