HC Deb 14 February 2003 vol 400 c2W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many cases of computer(a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft her Department recorded in 2001–02; and on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside her Department. [97561]

Clare Short

The information is as follows:

  1. No cases of either computer hacking or computer fraud were recorded in DFID during the period 2001–02.
  2. Eight cases of computer theft were recorded during the same period. Seven of these involved the theft of laptop computers:
    • Three were taken from DFID premises
    • Two were lost in transit
    • Two were stolen in break-ins from private homes.
    • The eighth was a palmtop Personal Digital Assistant that was believed to have been taken from DFID premises.
  3. There were no recorded incidents of DFID computer systems being illegally accessed by computer hackers either from within or from outside of the Department during the period 2001–02.