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Government Computer Systems: Cabinet Office

Lord Harris of Haringey asked Her Majesty's Government:

On how many occasions in each of the past two years malicious programmes have compromised computer systems in the Cabinet Office; and for each such occasion (a) how many machines were affected; (b) how long it took to remove the programmes from the system; and (c) what the impact was on the activities of the department. [HL3935]

Lord McKenzie of Luton: In the Cabinet Office over the past two years, there have been 25 separately recorded instances of malicious programmes (such as worms, viruses, and so on) being detected. In each instance, individual machines only were involved and the malicious programmes were quarantined and removed as soon as practicable. None of these separate instances compromised the security, integrity or availability of networked departmental computer systems, or had a significant impact on the day-to-day running of Cabinet Office operations.

Government Computer Systems: DCMS

Lord Harris of Haringey asked Her Majesty's Government:

On how many occasions in each of the past two years malicious programmes have compromised computer systems in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport; and for each such occasion (a) how many machines were affected; (b) how long it took to remove the programmes from the system; and (c) what the impact was on the activities of the department. [HL3937]

Lord Davies of Oldham: There were no instances where computer systems in the Department for
 
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Culture, Media and Sport were compromised by malicious programs in the past two years.

Government Computer Systems: Defra

Lord Harris of Haringey asked Her Majesty's Government:

On how many occasions in each of the past two years malicious programmes have compromised computer systems in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and for each such occasion (a) how many machines were affected; (b) how long it took to remove the programmes from the system; and (c) what the impact was on the activities of the Department. [HL3939]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Bach): In the past two years, the computer systems at Defra have been compromised by malicious programmes (such as worms, viruses, etc) on the following five occasions:
2004

Date of infection	Machines affected
February 2004
	System wide—denied access to Defra's network for a working day for a large part of the department (up to 10,000 users)
May 2004	Approximately 550 PCs
August 2004	Users not directly affected
October 2004	Approximately 350 PCs

2005

Date of infection	Machines affected
August 2005	Approximately 180 PCs

Upon discovery immediate action was taken to remove the malicious software. Apart from the incident in February 2004, the incidents did not have a significant impact on the day-to-day running of Defra's operations.

Government Computer Systems: Department for Transport

Lord Harris of Haringey asked Her Majesty's Government:

On how many occasions in each of the past two years malicious programmes have compromised computer systems in the Department for Transport; and for each such occasion (a) how many machines were affected; (b) how long it took to remove the programmes from the system; and (c) what the impact was on the activities of the department. [HL3972]

Lord Davies of Oldham: The computer systems at the Department for Transport and Agencies (DVLA, DSA, GCDA, HA, MCA, VCA and VOSA) have been compromised by malicious programmes (such as
 
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worms, viruses and so on). There has been one occasion in the past two years when this occurred on the MCA computer system (1,100 workstations). The [odq]worm[cdq] Sasser B impacted upon the whole system. It was cleared within five hours, contingency measures were implemented and the impact upon the business was minimal. There have been instances of individual PCs being compromised by malicious programmes but these have not compromised any of the computer systems.

Government Computer Systems: Treasury

Lord Harris of Haringey asked Her Majesty's Government:

On how many occasions in each of the past two years malicious programmes have compromised computer systems in HM Treasury; and for each such occasion (a) how many machines were affected; (b) how long it took to remove the programmes from the system; and (c) what the impact was on the activities of the department. [HL3977]

Lord McKenzie of Luton: In the past two years, there has been only one occasion where a malicious programme was successful in affecting HM Treasury systems. On that occasion a single machine was affected (a web server). The machine was out of service for five days. Some of the department's work was delayed during this period.

Heathrow Airport: Travelators

Lord Acton asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 27 October 2004 (WA 134), whether the travelators at Heathrow airport fell below the required standard during 2005; if so, in how many months of 2005; and how far short they fell of the required standard. [HL3731]

Lord Davies of Oldham: The operation and maintenance of travelators at Heathrow airport is a matter for the airport. BAA has indicated that there were no travelator failures at Heathrow airport in 2005.

House of Lords: Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Service

Earl Attlee asked the Chairman of Committees:

Whether the operation of the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Service is sufficient to ensure the health of Members with restricted access to primary health care due to their attendance at the House. [HL4109]

The Chairman of Committees (Lord Brabazon of Tara): Under the auspices of the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Service, a nurse is on duty in the
 
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medical room off the Lower Waiting Hall from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Thursday, and from 9 am to 4 pm on Fridays. An acute general practitioner service is also provided for Members by the Victoria Medical Centre. Full details of these and other medical services available to Members are set out on page 12 of the Members' Handbook.

The level of medical services provided to Members was agreed by the Administration and Works Committee in February 2005. This decision was based on the advice of the Medical Panel, which continually keeps the provision of medical services to Members under review. The panel consists of three Peers and three Members of the Commons who are all medically qualified, staff from both Houses, and external health professionals.

Housing: Affordable Housing Commission

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the terms of reference for the Affordable Housing Commission; and in what ways they expect it to improve access to affordable housing for people in rural areas. [HL3944]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Bach): The terms of reference for the Affordable Rural Housing Commission are:

to consider the evidence and reach a consensus on the relevant issues around affordable housing needs in rural areas, in the context of sustainable rural communities; and

to provide recommendations for practical solutions across private, government and voluntary sectors, taking account of existing good practice.

The commission will be reporting in spring 2006 and the results will inform the ongoing work of the Government and the Countryside Agency's Commission for Rural Communities. We would not want to pre-empt the recommendations of the commission. More information on the commission can be found on its website: www.defra.gov.uk/rural/housing/commission/.

India: Human Rights

Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they have made since 1997 to the government of India concerning discrimination against Dalit Christians in that country, giving the date of each representation made. [HL3864]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): Our initial research indicates that discussions involving UK and Indian Ministers during which the situation regarding Dalit Christians was specifically raised took place on the following occasions: between 4 and 9 September 2000; 20 November 2000;
 
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17 October 2002; and 5 January 2004. In addition, our staff at New Delhi regularly meet or are in contact with relevant Indian officials and non-governmental organisations to raise with them inter alia reports of persecution of and discrimination against minorities in general. The most recent such contact was with the Minorities Commission on 7 February 2006, to raise reports of persecution of Christians in the Dangs District of Gujarat.

Pre-1999 records are not held at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. These will be forwarded as soon as possible. If these records update this reply, I shall write to you accordingly and place the information in the Library of the House.

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