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Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Answer

Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress his Department has made in implementing the policy objective of the increased use of electronic signatures in communications (a) between officials, (b) from officials to persons and organisations outside and (c) from persons and organisations outside to officials in his Department. [152423] Ms Beverley Hughes: DETR(C) is aware that Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and its associated use of encryption and digital signatures will be used to provide strong authentication, non-repudiation and confidentiality for transactions which are designated to be above Level 1 in the "Guidelines for Trust and Authentication" of the "Confidentiality Services Framework" as defined by Cabinet Office. Our plans include: (a) for internal use-DETR(C) is currently carrying out a routine maintenance upgrade of its networking infrastructure; the new revision of the software will support the use of electronic signatures. Further work is under way to identify appropriate electronic signature products to work with the revised infrastructure, and the most effective way to deploy them. (b) from officials to persons and organisations outside and (c) from persons and organisations outside to officials in his Department--DETR(C) will ensure that our systems serve both the authentication needs for internal departmental communications, and for those with external persons and organisations. For that reason, we are in discussion with OGC, the E-envoy's office, CESG and the Gateway team so that the eventual solution will be compatible with facilities to be provided through the Government Gateway, the Government Secure Intranet and meet all interoperability requirements.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

152423; 364 c257-9W

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Data protection Codes of practice Software Computer networks Data transmission ICT Government departments Internet Telecommunications Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Cryptography Electronic signatures

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk