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Proceeding contribution from Dennis Skinner (Labour) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 16 June 2010. It occurred during Adjournment debate on Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.


Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority

I think my hon. Friend is now at the kernel of the subject: the online system. We have heard from my hon. Friend the Member for Sedgefield (Phil Wilson) that he reported a breach of security—that is what it was—when an e-mail was sent to him in error. Does my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall North (Mr Winnick) agree that that is not an isolated case? I have a letter here that was sent to me on 2 June. It belongs to another Member of Parliament. I have sent it to IPSA and told it about the mistake, and I have heard that several other Members have had similar e-mails, not destined for them. That is a serious breach of security. We all know that three Ministers in the previous Government lost their jobs because of dodgy e-mails, and the IPSA system will end in tears if we are not careful. This debate is not about IPSA itself, as my hon. Friend said at the very beginning, or about its being an independent body. We all welcome that, and voted for it. It is about the fact that the system is not secure. Already, in just a few weeks, we have seen many breaches of security. IPSA must look for a different system to get the show on the road, and then everybody will be satisfied.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
511 c140-1WH 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
Westminster Hall
Subjects
Disclosure of information Applications Administration Allowances Advisory services Administrative delays ICT Email Payments Management Members Members' staff Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk