HC Deb 24 April 1989 vol 151 cc454-5W
Miss Emma Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on all recorded cases of unauthorised access to his Department's computer files.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

No.

Miss Emma Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of his Department's policy on review of the security of its computer files.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The Department keeps all aspects of computer security under regular review. Arrangements are reviewed annually by the Departments information technology steering committee.

Miss Emma Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he can quantify the risk of damage by hackers to sensitive computerised files in his Department.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

It is not the policy of the Department to make public the scope for damage. Such information would be of assistance to potential attackers.

Miss Emma Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether staff are briefed about computer hacking and computer viruses; whether there are contingency plans to deal with computer downtime caused by unauthorised penetration; and what plans exist to deal with penetration of particularly sensitive systems.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Security managers are responsible for staff education programmes and the development of contingency plans. Effectiveness would be reduced if details were made public.