To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) staff work on e-crime; and what SOCA’s budget for dealing with e-crime is in 2007-08. (186945)

SOCA’s e-crime work is carried out by either the e-crime department (within the Intervention Directorate) or by staff from elsewhere across the organisation. In addition, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre—which is affiliated but operationally independent to SOCA—undertakes e-crime investigations in relation to child protection. SOCA’s e-crime department has a target capacity of 58 staff, with 51 in post as of 12 February 2008. The staff budget for the e-crime department in 2007-08 is £3,337,000, which does not include the cost of centralised services such as IT and premises.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Hi Tech Crime Unit in dealing with e-crime following its transfer into the Serious and Organised Crime Agency. (186946)

The Home Office monitors SOCA’s performance regularly. As required under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, SOCA will issue an annual report as soon as possible after the end of the 2007-08 financial year to describe how SOCA discharged its functions in that year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were employed in the e-crime department of the Serious Organised Crime Agency in April 2006; and how many people are so employed now. (173827)

In April 2006 there were 50 staff in the e-crime department. As of 25 January 2008 the e-crime department has 51 staff. Planned recruitment will bring the unit to its target capacity of 58 staff.