| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
18 Feb 2008 : Column 347W—continued
Departmental Data Protection
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps were taken to (a) prevent similar losses and (b) examine data protection procedures in (i) HM Revenue and Customs and (ii) other parts of HM Treasury following the loss of the disc containing data for Standard Life customers in transit between HM Revenue and Customs in Newcastle and Standard Life in Edinburgh; and if he will make a statement. [184205]
Jane Kennedy: HMRC was already undertaking an internal review of data handling and security at the time of the Standard Life incident.
Following the Standard Life incident, HMRC introduced tightened data security measures and controls in time for the next monthly transfer of payment information.
HMRC has also introduced new procedures designed to ensure that all data transfers require the personal approval of a director or their delegated data guardian.
Following the loss of child benefit data the Chancellor also asked Kieran Poynter to undertake an independent review of HMRC’s data handling.
In his interim report, published on 17 December, Kieran Poynter noted that HMRC had already put in place a number of measures to tighten its data handling. This report is available in the Library of the House. He is expected to consider the need for any further procedural changes in his final report which is due in the first half of 2008.
HMT are playing a full part in the Cabinet Office data handling exercise. A data handling workstream has been set up to manage the exercise and the risks associated with information handling. On 18 December the HMT permanent secretary e-mailed all staff reminding them of their responsibilities. This covered all aspects of security.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2008, Official Report, column 1341W, on departmental data protection, whether the investigation related to the two child benefit discs missing from HM Revenue and Customs. [185345]
Jane Kennedy: The investigation referred to in the answer of 16 January 2008, Official Report, column 1341W, related to the two child benefit discs missing from HM Customs and Revenue.
Departmental Databases
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what databases are (a) owned and (b) maintained by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies. [185422]
Angela Eagle: The Treasury and its agencies own and maintain a wide variety of databases to support their work.
Departmental ICT
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of his Department's personal digital assistants were (a) lost and (b) stolen in each of the last five years; and what the value of those items was. [185282]
Angela Eagle: The numbers of Treasury PDAs reported as lost or stolen are presented as follows:
| Number lost | Number stolen | Estimated value (£) | |
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr. Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the special advisers employed in his Department since 6 May 1997; and what the (a) start and (b) end date of employment was in each case. [184361]
Angela Eagle: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and numbers of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007, Official Report, columns 147-50WS.
Information on the employment of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and is available in the Library of the House.
Departmental Publications
Mr. Randall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what public information booklets were published by his Department in 2007; and what the (a) print run and (b) cost to the Department was in each case. [185790]
Angela Eagle: The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Department has published five public information booklets in 2007. These were:
Departmental Training
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2007, Official Report, column 615W, on departmental training, how many Treasury away days were undertaken in each of the last five years. [178344]
Angela Eagle: No central records are held on Treasury teams' away days and the information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. In common with other organisations in the public and private sectors the Treasury uses away days for work-planning, training and staff development purposes.
Employment
Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the employment rate was for (a) lone parents, (b) the disabled and (c) the over 50s in each year since 1997, broken down by constituency. [185941]
Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 18 February 2008:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the employment rate was for (a) lone parents, (b) the disabled and (c) the over 50s in each year since 1997, broken down by constituency. (185941).
Information in the form requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
European Commission: Offices
Mr. Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the UK financial contribution was towards maintaining, staffing and operating the representative offices of the European Commission in (a) EU capitals, (b) non-EU capitals and (c) other locations in each of the last 10 years. [186280]
Angela Eagle: The UK makes its contributions to the EC Budget as a whole and not to individual spending programmes within it. There is therefore no specific UK contribution to the areas of expenditure referred to.
Excise Duties: Fuels
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much revenue the Exchequer accrued from sales of (a) diesel and (b) petrol on garage forecourts in the last 12 months; [186237]
(2) what the excise duty rate was on (a) diesel and (b) petrol fuel in each of the last five years. [186238]
Angela Eagle: Historic and monthly excise duty receipts from diesel and petrol can be found in table 3 of the HM Revenue and Customs Hydrocarbon Oils Bulletin, a copy of which can be found at:
Published figures on receipts are on the basis of excise duty charged on quantities of oil released for consumption rather than on forecourt sales.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |