§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the last year intra-departmental facsimile messages have been sent to the wrong destination; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesThis information is not recorded.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the security implications of intra-departmental facsimile messages mistakenly sent to the wrong destination; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesShould a breach of security occur, the circumstances would be investigated by my Department's security directorate or the appropriate single service security authority. Additionally, an investigation into local procedures would be undertaken by line management.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has initiated an inquiry into mistakes in his Department resulting in the sending of facsimile messages to the wrong destination; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesShould a breach of security occur from the mis-dialling and transmission of a facsimile message, the appropriate departmental authority would investigate the incident.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the intra-departmental facsimile messages sent to the wrong destination in the last year have been(a) classified and (b) unclassified.
§ Mr. SoamesAlthough records would be kept when breaches of security occur, no central record of these is maintained.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the effect of the facsimile message mistakenly sent toThe News in Plymouth in April 1994, on the career prospects of the officers who were its subject.
§ Mr. SoamesNone.