§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 1999,Official Report, column 75, on electronic warfare, if he will take lead responsibility for electronic warfare attacks on (a) the banking system, (b) utilities, (c) telecommunications, (d) air traffic control, (e) areas currently the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence and (f) areas currently within the responsibility of the Cabinet Office. [68312]
§ Mr. StrawFollowing my answer on 25 January 1999,Official Report, column 79, there is to be no change of responsibilities between Departments. I believe that it is better to build upon the relationships and responsibilities that Departments already have with the relevant parts of the private sector. I see no good reason to change this.
My taking the lead responsibility within Government for the measures proposed serves to put onto a more formal footing the liaison over the security arrangements necessary to protect our vital national assets.
§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 1999,Official Report, column 75, on electronic warfare, if his answer was the statement referred to by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Warley (Mr. Spellar), on 4 November 1998, Official Report, column 992. [68347]