§ 11.15 a.m.
§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why, nearly three years after the request was first made, they are still unable consistently to provide copies of Answers to Written Questions by e-mail.
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, the Central IT Unit of the Cabinet Office has investigated the feasibility of answering parliamentary Questions for Written Answer electronically, and the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency has been developing a detailed operating system. CCTA is now working towards implementation of the system, and we shall provide a report to the Library and Computer Sub-Committee of the House in June.
§ Lord LucasMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that Answer and for letting me see the current state of the system this morning. However, I do not have the slightest gratitude to the Government for the glacial slowness with which they have addressed this matter. In three years they appear to have made progress which might have taken a determined commercial company two or three months. Is this not a quite unnecessary but typical disrespect for Parliament? Likewise, is it not a typical example of the difference between what the Government promise—electronic government by 2005—and what they deliver? Is the noble Lord prepared to answer a similar Question from me in six months' time, for I fear that if I asked it 12 months from now I would have to ask a Member of my own Front Bench?
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, I was about to accept the justice of the noble Lord's rebuke until he went over the top. I am afraid that I cannot accept it. Progress has been too slow, but there is one very good reason for it: the Government Secure Intranet has only just achieved critical mass and been implemented in all departments. Until that happened the security of origin of the electronic answer could not be guaranteed. Therefore, there is no disrespect to Parliament. Progress has been made as a result of the implementation of the Government Secure Intranet. As to whether the noble Lord's Question will be answered in six months' time, that depends on our ability to ensure that all departments use the system which is now becoming available.
§ Lord Cocks of HartcliffeMy Lords, is the Minister aware that I serviced the entire captain's office on HMS "Siskin" with an old Imperial typewriter and a Gestetner? Does my noble friend accept that as to 873 respect for Parliament there are some in this House who regard individual judgment as much more important than a lot of newfangled stuff?
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyNo, my Lords. My noble friend elevates stubbornness to a virtue which it does not deserve.
§ Lord RotherwickMy Lords, can the Minister advise the House on whether the critical mass to which he referred will stop viruses, such as the "I Love You" virus of the other day, going round the Intranet? I am well aware that that virus had to come from the Internet to get into the system, but it was the Intranet which passed it round to all the recipients.
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, I do not think that that is the case. The virus came from outside. It came into the PDVN without reference to GSI, the secure Intranet. The secure Intranet secures internal communications between and within government departments. That has no relevance to the virus. The virus had to be dealt with by anti-virus activities; and it was.
§ Lord Davies of OldhamMy Lords, irrespective of the method of delivery, does the Minister agree that it is the quality of the answers which counts? Does he further agree that that quality has been greatly enhanced since 1st May 1997?
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, on behalf of my colleagues, I thank my noble friend.
§ The Countess of MarMy Lords, I might have disputed what the Minister's noble friend said, but I shall riot do so at this stage.
Will the Minister kindly pass on to the people who operate the parliamentary network my grateful thanks, and possibly those of many Members of this House, for the very good way in which they help us to handle our e-mails and other Intranet transactions? My computer was infected by a nasty bug which they had picked up before I opened the e-mail. They warned me instantly. I appreciate the service they give.
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, I am sure that those concerned will be pleased to hear the noble Countess's words.