§ Dr. Cable:To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission how much has been (a) budgeted and (b) spent since April 2002 on (i) combating computer fraud, (ii) preventing theft of computers and (iii) safeguarding the security of information held on computer; and if he will make a statement. [128791]
§ Sir Archy Kirkwood[holding answer 16 September 2003]: As a matter of policy the Commission does not comment on details of, or expenditure on, security arrangements. However, I can reassure my hon. Friend that current security arrangements include a high profile security presence, internal audit of procedures, security tagging of equipment supplied by the House and an in-house IT Security Officer. In addition to this, firewalls, anti-virus software, data encryption for Virtual Private Network access to parliamentary data, and password protection of systems form part of the software-based security arrangements.
In order to maintain the level of protection, PCD is preparing an IT Security Programme, which will address recommendations made by the IT Security Officer following an audit carried out by security consultants.
I would also refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for North-East Hampshire (Mr. Arbuthnot) on 17 July 2003, Official Report, column 501W.