HC Deb 02 December 1996 vol 286 cc517-8W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the extent to which the pressure of work on EDS Ltd. and the Inland Revenue has contributed to the revision of security and handling arrangements in the case of tax records held by the United Kingdom Inland Revenue. [1634]

Mr. Jack

[holding answer 11 November 1996]The technical support arrangements for the self-assessment computer system are not related to pressures of work at the Inland Revenue or Electronic Data Services Ltd. They are designed to provide quick and effective support for the Inland Revenue in running the self-assessment system.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library the memorandum dealing with access by EDS or Oracle overseas to the Inland Revenue's database. [1640]

Mr. Jack

[holding answer 12 November 1996]My reply on 16 October 1996 to my hon. Friend the Member for Southport (Mr. Banks),Official Report, columns 912–13, made public the arrangements which Oracle would be putting in place to provide 24-hour support, using its worldwide service network, for the self-assessment computer system. But it would not be appropriate to make public the advice given, in confidence, by officials to Government Ministers.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the revised security strategy in the case of the Inland Revenue database represents a change of Government policy. [1641]

Mr. Jack

[holding answer 12 November 1996]The Inland Revenue's security policy has been revised only to reflect the requirement to provide 24-hour technical support for business critical computer systems. This does not represent a change of Government policy.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide for information governing the personal tax affairs of hon. Members to be held on the Oracle data equipment on the same basis and in the same way as all other United Kingdom taxpayers. [1644]

Mr. Jack

[holding answer 12 November 1996]The tax affairs of all taxpayers are treated as confidential, but for some years, additional safeguards have applied in certain cases, including Members of Parliament, and such safeguards will also apply under self-assessment.