Serious Crime Bill [HL]

Debate between Lord Swinfen and Lord Taylor of Holbeach

Tuesday 8th July 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Swinfen]

What is the definition of cybercrime? I think it is a very wide one. I ask the question deliberately, because some time ago my charity—which, as I said before, works in 74 different countries—had its website hacked. It was repaired and the following day it was completely destroyed. We suspected that it was destroyed possibly by officials of another nation who did not approve of us giving medical advice to doctors working in that country. I suspect they thought that there might have been some nefarious purpose in it, although in fact it was purely charitable. I would be grateful if my noble friend would give me a definition of cybercrime.

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

Cybercrime is the use of computers—indeed, I may have it here. I have the Serious and Organised Crime Strategy, which uses the term. Cybercrime is the use of computers and electronic systems to commit a crime. Clearly, what happened to the noble Lord’s charity is a crime, committed extraterritorially. One of the aspects of cybercrime is that it is not globally isolated to particular territories or countries—hence the debates that we have been having on this particular issue. That is why we need to tackle it globally and why we need to be globally active in order to deal with it.

I believe that the clauses in this area are designed specifically to bring the Computer Misuse Act, which is what lies at the bottom of it, up to date, to recognise the threat that can exist from computer crime and particularly nowadays, when electronic use is so much greater than it was in 1990, when the Act was first brought in.

Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill

Debate between Lord Swinfen and Lord Taylor of Holbeach

Monday 25th November 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Swinfen (Con)]

Did I hear my noble friend correctly? Did he say that people have to produce evidence of not having received documents? I do not see how they could do so.

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

I am quoting from the information I have received, which is the interpretation of Section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978. When I received it, it sounded slightly topsy-turvy, but nevertheless this has been in use for some time and I expect that there are precedents for the use of this Act. As I say, my noble friend can be reassured that the majority of notices of this type are served either by a visit or by recorded delivery. I shall seek to elaborate further on this and write to my noble friend.

Environment: Leafleting

Debate between Lord Swinfen and Lord Taylor of Holbeach

Monday 9th July 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

So I am afraid I missed all the excitement and only shared the disappointment that the whole House felt at the result.

[Lord Swinfen]

My Lords, can my noble friend give any indication of the costs to local authorities of clearing up litter?

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

Yes, I can give a clue in that street cleaning in the years 2010-11 cost £863 million.