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21 July 2009 : Column 1484W—continued
Cybercrime
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition his Department uses of (a) cyber terrorism and (b) cyber warfare. [286945]
Mr. Hanson: Broadly, an act of 'cyber terrorism' refers to a non-physical attack by terrorists on our information and communications infrastructure. As the UK's Cyber Security Strategy makes clear, terrorists and violent extremists also make use of cyberspace for purposes such as communication, co-ordination, propaganda, fundraising, radicalisation and recruitment. However, due to the inherent challenges associated with attributing responsibility for actions in cyberspace, our security approach aims to address the range of threats which may manifest in the cyber domain rather than seeking to categorise specific actions as cyber terrorism.
There is an ongoing and broad debate regarding what 'cyber warfare' might entail. However, it is clear that the defence and exploitation of information systems are increasingly important for national security and we recognise the need to develop military and civil capabilities to ensure that we can defend against attack and take steps against adversaries where necessary.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce levels of (a) cyber attacks and (b) other cross-jurisdictional crimes affecting the UK. [286947]
Mr. Hanson: The Government's Cyber Security Strategy, published last month, announced new governance structures and programmes of work in pursuit of the UK's strategic cyber security objectives.
The Office of Cyber Security (OCS), based in the Cabinet Office, will be established in September 2009 to provide strategic leadership for and coherence across Government on all cyber security issues. These include measures to improve the security and resilience of critical systems in the public and private sector, enhance our ability to detect cyber attacks and work to develop international law and doctrines of national defence in cyberspace.
The Government have also recently published "Extending Our Reach: A Comprehensive Approach to Tackling Serious Organised Crime". Organised crime is an international business, for example, trafficking in drugs or illegal immigrants. In addition, much e-crime is committed by individuals outside the UK's borders.
We need to act wherever we can have the greatest impact on reducing the harms to the UK and its citizens. That is why we have operational footprint across the world, including in South America, Africa and Afghanistan. SOCA work with Spanish authorities, for example, has led to the arrest of 101 subjects who had fled from UK justice to Spain. Among these there have been 25 drug traffickers, 12 individuals wanted for murder and eight money launderers.
International work can be the most effective way to cut organised crime profits, bring criminals to justice and reduce the harms caused in the UK.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cyber attacks have been detected against (a) his Department and (b) the UK Border Agency in the last five years. [288552]
Alan Johnson: The Government consider a range of information on such issues and take appropriate steps where necessary. It would not be in the interests of national security to provide information about specific threats and attacks, either in terms of the type of threat, the method or the target, as this could aid potential adversaries.
Cyberspace
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has held with his US and European counterparts on a multilateral approach to securing cyberspace. [287001]
Mr. Hanson: The Cabinet Office currently provides the lead for policy on cyber security and has, supported by representatives from across Government, continued to engage closely with international partners during the development of the UK's recently published Cyber Security Strategy.
As the strategy explains, the security of cyberspace is a transnational issue and, as such, working with international partners and organisations, including those in the US and Europe, is essential to achieving the UK's strategic cyber security objectives.
Departmental Accountancy
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish his Department's resource accounts for 2008-09. [287332]
Mr. Woolas: The Department has published the 2008-09 resource accounts in the Journal Office. Copies are available in the Vote Office, shortly after they are laid. The Department expects to publish the 2008-09 resource accounts within one month of laying the typescript accounts.
Departmental Contracts
Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contracts let by his Department were awarded to businesses with fewer than 50 employees in each of the last five years; and what the monetary value of such contracts was in each such year. [287802]
Mr. Woolas: The Home Department is committed to implementing the recommendations of the Glover report and is working to achieve these. It has the ability to identify small and medium-enterprises (SMEs) on its system and currently has 1,883 registered.
The Department does not capture company size information in relation to number of employees below that of the definition of SMEs, which are enterprises that employ fewer than 250 employees.
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many facilities management contracts have been let by his Department in each of the last 12 years. [288375]
Mr. Woolas [holding answer 20 July 2009]: This information is not held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff at each pay band in his Department and its agencies had been (a) suspended on full pay and (b) on sick pay for (i) over 12 months, (ii) six to 12 months and (iii) three to six months at the latest date for which figures are available. [285787]
Alan Johnson: There are currently 26,099 staff in the Home Office and its agencies. Of those 26,000:
(a) 93 are suspended on full pay
(b) (i) None have been on paid sickness absence for more that 12 months. Home Office policy is to cease paying staff whose sickness absence exceeds 12 months. (ii) Fewer than 178 have been on paid sickness absence for between six and 12 months. (iii) Fewer than 651 have been on paid sickness absence for between three and six months.
Detailed breakdowns of suspensions and sickness absences by pay band are attached. It is not possible to provide precise answers to (b) (ii) and (iii) as the detailed breakdown by pay band includes groups of fewer than five. In those cases further information is withheld on grounds of confidentiality.
| Table ( a ) : questions (i) over 12 months (ii) six to 12 months and ( iii) three to six months | |||
| Home Office (including its agencies) | |||
| Grade | Over 12 months | 6 to 12 months | 3 to 6 months |
| (1) Fewer than five Notes: 1. The table includes all suspensions within the UK Border Agency, as UKBA do not centrally hold information on whether staff were suspended on full pay. 2. Where fewer than five members of staff have been suspended, further information has been withheld on confidentiality grounds. | |||
| Table (b) (ii) Home Office staff paid sickness absences accrued 6 to 12 months | |
| Grade | Home Department |
| (1 )Fewer than five | |
| Table (b) (iii) Home Office staff paid sickness absences accrued 3 to 6 months | |
| Grade | Home Department |
| (1) Fewer than five Notes: 1. Figures represent number of staff whose total sick absences during the period accrued to the relevant duration in each table 2. Period covered-1 June 2008 to 31 May 2009 Source: Home Office Dataview May 2009 | |
Departmental Manpower
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the nationalities are of employees based in his Department's Abu Dhabi hub. [272747]
Alan Johnson: For staff security reasons, My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Borders and Immigration will write to the hon. Gentleman in confidence with the information he has requested.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of employees in his Department are (a) women and (b) men; and what the average hourly pay of the (i) male and (ii) female employees in his Department was in the latest period for which figures are available. [287557]
Mr. Woolas [holding answer 20 July 2009]: Civil service statistics are collected by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) from annual civil service employment surveys (ACSES). The latest published statistics are for 31 March 2008 and can be found at:
ONS collects the annual gross salary of civil servants and does not produce hourly rates of pay.
Departmental Nurseries
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what crèche facilities his Department provides for its employees working in Whitehall. [282232]
Mr. Woolas
[holding answer 25 June 2009]: The Home Office does not provide crèche (nursery) facilities for its staff. The Department does however operate a Childcare Voucher Salary Sacrifice Scheme which is open to all staff at all locations. In addition Home Office staff are able to use the Westminster holiday playscheme at subsidised rates. This scheme is run during
the school holidays for children aged between four-12 and provision is shared by a number of Government Departments.
In addition to childcare support the Home Office also has in place a range of policies to help staff who are working parents balance work and home. These include enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity pay, flexible working patterns, for example, part time working and job sharing as well as special paid and unpaid leave provision.
Departmental Official Cars
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2009 , Official Report, columns 1639-40W, on official cars, how many of the cars (a) owned and (b) leased by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies are over six years old. [276777]
Mr. Woolas: The four cars are owned by the UK Border Agency.
Cars leased by the Home Department and its executive agencies are usually returned to the lease company at or shortly after three years.
Departmental Pay
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which (a) sections of his Department and (b) non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible have requested money saved from efficiency savings to be used for increased pay in their 2009 pay offers to staff. [282894]
Mr. Woolas: No section of the Home Office, nor any of the non-departmental public bodies for which the Home Office is responsible, has requested money saved from efficiency savings to be used for increased pay in its 2009 pay offer to staff.
Departmental Procurement
Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress his Department has made in implementing the recommendations of the Glover report in its procurement processes. [287141]
Mr. Woolas: The Home Department is fully participating in the work and has representation on the boards of the cross-departmental projects set up by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Office of Government Commerce for the implementation of the Glover Report recommendations.
The Home Department's progress on the implementation of the report's recommendations includes:
(a) investment in a Procurement and Commercial Toolset which enables the electronic advertisement of contract opportunities through a free online portal;
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