HC Deb 14 February 2003 vol 400 c84W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. [97558]

Alun Michael

The Department was formed on 9 June 2001 so figures reflect the period 9 June 2001 to 31 December 2002. Figures are not available prior to this date.

  1. (a) During this period there were no cases of computer hacking detected.
  2. (b) During this period there were no cases of computer fraud detected.
  3. (c) The number of cases of computer theft detected was 27. It is not possible to provide accurate figures for whether these thefts were perpetrated by insiders or by persons outside the Department because some internal and police investigations did not provide conclusive evidence.