§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has(a) to utilise the Internet, (b) to make available on the Internet press releases and other departmental information to which the public may wish to have access and (c) to use the Internet as a means of increasing the openness of his Department.
§ Mr. HanleyMy Department currently makes use of the Internet—particularly the unclassified electronic mail facility with its ability to transmit information rapidly worldwide. Owing to the unclassified, open nature of the network there is, however, no intention of using the Internet for defence communications.
Our press releases are issued electronically through the Central Office of Information and are accessible to users of the Internet via Data-Star Dialog (Europe) or Mead/Lexis/Nexis.
Consideration is being given to the provision of access to the Internet through the departmental library as an enhancement to existing information services. The introduction of my Department of further roles for the Internet would however be conditional on the development of adequate security measures to protect sensitive information.