Written question asked by Andrew Mackinlay (Labour) on Monday, 10 September 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 September 2007. It was answered by Jim Murphy (Labour) on Monday, 17 September 2007 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

China: Hacking

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information the Government have collected on the hacking into of (a) Government, (b) Parliament and (c) UK commerce and industry computers and databases from China; and what action he has taken with the Chinese Government to halt such activity.

Answer: It is the long-standing policy of the Government not to comment on national security issues.Attacks on computer systems are an increasing world-wide phenomenon, and the need to manage the consequent risks to information held on these systems is taken very seriously by the Government. Both the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure and Communications Electronic Security Group (part of Government Communications Headquarters) play a key role in providing IT security advice to UK Government and industry, and a framework of measures is in place to protect vital systems from attacks.

Secondary information