MPs look to set up new system as security row escalates

Fears grow over confidentiality of files on parliamentary servers

Data access row rumbles on

The row over access to MPs’ personal computer files and emails resulting from the police raid on the Commons office of Tory shadow immigration minister Damian Green is developing rapidly.

MPs are now considering setting up their own remote access databases accessible from Commons and constituency offices following fears that files they have kept on the parliamentary system's central server are not secure.

Liberal Democrat MP Richard Younger-Ross said he had used the Parliamentary Video and Data System's "S" server, as do other MPs, for ease of access both from his Westminster and constituency offices.

He said the failure of Speaker Michael Martin or Commons leader Harriet Harman to guarantee his files were not caught up in the row after police raided Green's office meant that was no longer acceptable.

Younger-Ross said most constituents would not worry about what had happened, but he gave as examples of the reason for his concern, a police officer in his constituency who contacted him over pay and the family of a soldier serving in Iraq raising the poor conditions in which he had to live, neither of whom would want the authorities to know.

"It is a grave concern if anyone should have access to the ‘S’ server without MPs being aware of it,” he said.

"I suspect the police have not accessed my files, but this issue was raised a week ago and why are we not being able to be told they did not?"