Sixteen government laptops lost

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A total of 16 laptop computers have disappeared from executive departments in the past year.

They were among a total of 38 electronic devices that were listed as lost or stolen since the start of May 2007.

The Department of Trade and Enterprise and the Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers were unaffected.

The details were revealed in a written answer from the Finance Minster Peter Robinson to SDLP MLA Thomas Burns.

"I would like to see any laptop that's coming from a government body fitted with a tracker device," said Mr Burns.

"It should be able to be found quickly if it has been stolen."

Among the other electronic devices which were lost or stolen were digital cameras, mobile phones, Blackberries and memory sticks.