§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what physical protection and contractual safeguards he has arranged to prevent breach of taxpayers' confidentiality by software suppliers allowed emergency access from terminals in America and Australia to the Inland Revenue's computer system. [1978]
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 4 November 1996]I refer to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) on 13 November at columns226–27.
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§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what alternatives to overseas support for the protection of Inland Revenue data against operational risk of a shutdown or slowdown of the self-assessment system were examined by Ministers before revision of the Oracle contract. [1635]
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 11 November 1996]I considered all alternative technical support arrangements, but none provided the degree of protection that is required.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Inland Revenue data can be accessed by Oracle facilities overseas before legal or other contractual safeguards concerning the security or holding of that data have been contractually agreed between Oracle and persons representing the Inland Revenue. [1637]
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the computerised environment for self-assessment systems will be fully operational and in what way policy has recently changed with regards to security aspects of the holding of Inland Revenue self-assessment data. [1638]
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 11 November 1996]The new self-assessment computer system is being brought in in stages, as required, over a period of some 18 months. As regards the security aspects, I refer to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) on 13 November at columns226–27.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons it is not possible to require under the contract between Oracle and the Inland Revenue adequate back-up facilities for fault correction in the computerised environment for self-assessment. [1639]
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 11 November 1996]Oracle is supplying, under contract to Electronic Data Services Ltd., the Inland Revenue's information technology partner, full back-up support for the self-assessment computer system.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on the security of information systems of the EDS-Oracle contract with the Inland Revenue. [1642]
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 12 November 1996]I refer to the reply I gave on 13 November to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) at columns226–27.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assurances he has received from(a) EDS and (b) Oracle as to the security of information held on the Inland Revenue database when transmitted outside of the United Kingdom. [1643]
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 12 November 1996]I refer to the reply I gave on 13 November to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) at columns226–27.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if subcontractors and contractors otherwise associated with EDS or Oracle will be subject to the same contractual terms as EDS or Oracle themselves in the protection and security of the Inland Revenue database. [1645]
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