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9 Jan 2008 : Column 624W—continued
Treasury
Child Benefit: Personal Records
Mr. MacNeil:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) assessment he has made of the utility and (b) estimate he has made of the cost to
the public purse of providing protective registration under the credit industry fraud avoidance system at no cost to those individuals whose data was contained on the discs lost between HM Revenue and Customs and the National Audit Office. [169208]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 29 November 2007]: As My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his statement to the House of Commons on 17 December 2007, Official Report, columns 612-14, the police have no reason to believe that the data have fallen into the wrong hands.
The acting chairman of HMRC has written to all customers affected confirming that banks and building societies have appropriate safeguards in place and advising customers on precautionary steps they may wish to take to further protect themselves, including regularly checking bank statements, and changing passwords if they contain personal data such as a child’s name or date of birth.
The Government have also had discussions with a range of organisations, and is continuing to keep the matter of protection under review.
Council Tax: Scotland
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what settlements were reached on council tax between the Treasury and the last Scottish Executive administration. [176448]
Angela Eagle: The level of council tax in Scotland is set by Scottish local authorities.
Departmental Data Protection
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies confidential data have been downloaded on to compact discs (i) without and (ii) with encryption in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; how many of those discs have been posted without using recorded or registered delivery; what procedures his Department has in place for the (A) transport, (B) exchange and (C) delivery of confidential or sensitive data; what records are kept of information held by his Department being sent outside the Department; what changes have been made to his Department’s rules and procedures on data protection in the last two years; on how many occasions his Department’s procedures and rules on data protection have been breached in the last five years; what those breaches were; what procedures his Department has in place on downloading confidential data on to computer discs before its transfer; what technical protections there are in his Department’s computer systems to prevent access to information held on those systems which is not in accordance with departmental procedures; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each of his Department’s rules and procedures on the protection of confidential data on individuals, businesses and other organisations. [168263]
Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the statement given in the House by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 20 November 2007, Official Report, columns 1101-04.
On 20 November, the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC’s data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The review will cover the steps that should be taken to ensure any further measures are adhered to consistently by all staff. The interim report was published on 7 December 2007 and is available in the Library of the House.
I also refer the hon. Member to the remarks I made on 28 November 2007, Official Report, column 344, setting out the three key steps all staff in HMRC must now follow for bulk data transfers.
Further, as announced by the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007, Official Report, column 1179, the review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments’ procedures will be made on completion of the review.
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Minister in his Department reviewed the formal document submitted by the Departmental Security/IT Officer following the risk assessment and risk management process for information security. [169755]
Jane Kennedy: Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs is operationally independent of Ministers. It is established by statute and run by a board of Commissioners who are responsible for operational matters.
The risk assessment and risk management processes for information security are kept under constant review by HM Revenue and Customs.
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what occasions he has met the Departmental Security Officer who last carried out a periodic security review of (a) his Department and (b) HM Revenue and Customs in accordance with the manual of protective security. [169759]
Jane Kennedy: Treasury Ministers discuss a wide range of issues, including security, with officials in the Departments for which they are responsible.
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when HM Revenue and Customs first carried out a risk assessment in accordance with section 0 (12) of the manual of protective security after its establishment; and when it last carried one out; [169760]
(2) when his Department carried out risk assessments in accordance with section 0 (12) of the manual of protective security over the last five years; [169761]
(3) when the last periodic review of security risks in (a) his Department and (b) HM Revenue and Customs took place in accordance with section 0 of the manual of protective security; [169762]
(4) when the last reassessment of risk was carried out by (a) his Department and (b) HM Revenue and Customs in accordance with section 0 (24) of the manual of protective security. [169763]
Jane Kennedy: Both HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs keep their security policies and procedures under constant review. They use the Cabinet Office Manual of Protective Security as the basis for ensuring that adequate and proportionate security measures are applied to protecting information, in all its forms, in their care. From that publication, they derive their own security policies and standards. Assurance activities test compliance with each Department’s security policies and standards.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what internal reports on data security have been submitted to Ministers in his Department in the last five years; and on what date each was submitted; [173370]
(2) what (a) reports on and (b) reviews of data security in HM Revenue and Customs have been ordered by Ministers in the last five years; and on what date each was (i) ordered and (ii) received. [173371]
Jane Kennedy: Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs is operationally independent of Ministers. It is established by statute and run by a board of Commissioners who are responsible for its operations but answerable to Parliament through the Chancellor. Treasury Ministers discuss a range of issues and tasks relating to the administration of the Department with officials in the Departments for which they are responsible.
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether personal data for which his Department is responsible is (a) stored and (b) processed overseas; and if he will make a statement. [176012]
Angela Eagle: No personal data for which this Department is responsible is stored or processed overseas.
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what obligations his Department and its agencies place on contractors in relation to the audit of personal data and IT equipment. [176470]
Angela Eagle: Contractors working for HM Treasury (HMT) and its agencies are required to agree to comply with Acceptable Use Policies prior to using any IT equipment or receiving access to network systems and the Government Secured Intranet. There are a number of contracts currently in use within HMT and its agencies. It is not possible to comment on each one individually, however HMT's General Terms and Conditions of Contract and the Model Contract Terms (produced by Office of Government Commerce) contain Data Protection Clauses, which require all contractors to be registered under the relevant parts of the Data Protection Act 1998 and to ensure that the applicable provisions of the Data Protection Act are complied with.
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what audits his Department and its agencies have carried out in relation to personal data and IT equipment in each of the last 10 years. [176487]
Angela Eagle: HMT and its agencies undertake either a formal programme of audits each year or carry out internal reviews which incorporate audits of personal data (of the general public and employees) and IT equipment. The extent and focus of these audits is dependent on the specific terms of reference for each review and a large number of audits have been carried out each year in the last 10 years that relate to these areas.
Departmental Marketing
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many branded plastic bags (a) HM Revenue and Customs, (b) the Valuation Office Agency and (c) his Department purchased in the last 24 months for which figures are available; and at what cost in that period. [176414]
Angela Eagle: There have been no purchases of branded plastic bags during the last 24 months within HM Treasury and the Valuation Office Agency, and while there have also been no purchases made by the central procurement directorate of HM Revenue and Customs, there is a possibility that a small insignificant number may have been purchased by local offices within HM Revenue and Customs.
Departmental Recycling
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recycling scheme is in operation in each building operated by (a) his Department, (b) the Valuation Office Agency and (c) HM Revenue and Customs. [176408]
Angela Eagle: The information is as follows:
As part of the waste management strategy for Treasury buildings, the majority of desk bins have been replaced by alternative receptacles placed throughout the buildings to encourage recycling. In addition, desk top recycler bins have also been provided to encourage better segregation and disposal of waste.
Paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, aluminium cans, redundant IT equipment and mobile telephones are recycled at all three sites. In addition, batteries are recycled at the Norwich office and organic matter is disposed of into compost bins and the compost then used on the gardens.
Waste is removed from sites by specialist waste contractors who recover any recyclable material from the general waste stream, with the balance sent to landfill.
VOA offices recycle confidential waste paper. Mapeley are the service provider for the majority of VOA offices, and on these sites, lamps will also be recycled. Mapeley are piloting several recycling schemes across HMRC sites and VOA offices will be included in this scheme where Mapeley are the service provider. In addition, local offices have set up their own recycling initiatives. It is expected that a more comprehensive recycling scheme will be rolled out across the VO estate in the next financial year.
Mapeley and HMRC’s service partners have a number of schemes in operation across the STEPs estate:
HMRC has a range of contracts in place nationally for confidential and restricted waste paper recycling.
Together with HMRC’s service partner Mapeley, a recycling scheme is being implemented across 24 sites. Paper, cans and plastic are recycled in this scheme. This is a rolling programme which will be expanded to deliver a consistent service across the estate.
Mapeley also provided accommodation to HMRC through third party landlords, who provide various recycling schemes. Most of the schemes are not controlled by Mapeley. However, in partnership with British Land, Mapeley has implemented a wet and dry waste recycling scheme at Euston Tower, London and Southgate House, Gloucester.
Offices in and around London are serviced by a scheme run by Capital Waste.
HMRC also have a number of local initiatives started by local staff e.g. charity toner cartridge recycling schemes.
HMRC also have several other PFI providers who have various recycling initiatives in place.
Departmental Security Officer
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what occasions he and his predecessor met the Departmental Security Officer of (a) his Department, (b) the Inland Revenue, (c) HM Customs and Excise and (d) HM Revenue and Customs in the last three years. [169734]
Jane Kennedy: Treasury Ministers discuss a wide range of issues, including security, with officials in the departments for which they are responsible.
EU Grants and Loans
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people employed in his Department work on administering EU structural funds; and what the cost of such staff was in 2006-07. [176045]
Angela Eagle: EU structural funds in the UK are not administered by the Treasury but by the appropriate managing authority.
Government Departments: Assets
Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value of the fixed assets of all Government Departments is. [177065]
Andy Burnham: The National Asset Register, published in January 2007, provides details of the value of fixed assets held by Government Departments.
Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was realised from the sale of fixed assets by the Government in each of the last five years; and what the estimated total of such disposals for 2007-08 is. [177066]
Andy Burnham: Details of proceeds raised from the disposal of fixed assets is published at PBR (Ch. B), Budget (Ch. C) and in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (Ch. 5).
Government Departments: Property
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which public authorities on the Electronic Property Information Mapping Service have vacant space; and what the area or size of the vacant space is in each case. [176397]
Angela Eagle: A breakdown of actual vacant space area by Department, and this figure as a percentage of total space, has been outlined in the following table, as recorded on e-PIMS on 8 January 2008.
| Parent Department | Area of vacant space (m2) | Percentage of total space |
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