HC Deb 13 March 1989 vol 149 c27W
Miss Emma Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what consideration he has given to the potential risks of social security fraud under a computerised system; and if he will take measures to minimise these risks;

(2) if he will quantify the risks posed to individuals from computerisation of the Department's files;

(3) what measures he intends to take to protect, from unathorised internal or external entry, newly computerised elements of the social security network.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 15 December 1988 at columns693–94. I add that the introduction of new computerised systems for administering social security will substantially reduce the risk of certain types of social security fraud.

Miss Emma Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will quantify and qualify progress made in the provision of the computer network for his Department's social security files; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

This year's Public Expenditure White Paper (Cm. 615) sets out the progress made in the development of our huge computerisation programme, the operational strategy. We are happy to add another achievment to that list, the largest and most ambitious system yet, namely the local office project which deals with the processing of income support, which was successfully introduced in Bolton and Edinburgh, South local offices on 27 February.