§ 53. Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about the 761W extent of hacking into computers in (a) Government Departments holding confidential information and (b) private sector institutions; if he has considered the possibility of introducing legislation to make hacking a criminal offence; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonThe Home Office does not collect information about the extent of computer hacking. The Law Commission last month published a working paper on computer misuse. This considers whether hacking should become an offence. The commission has asked for comments by the end of February and will take these into account before publishing its final report and recommendations. In the light of its final report, we shall consider whether legislation is needed.