To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2008, Official Report, column 398W, on departmental data protection, where the data centres are located; who manages them; and what steps have been taken to test their physical security. (246938)

The Data Centres used by the Department are located in North East England and are managed, on behalf of the Department, by EDS. Regular tests and formal audits are undertaken by both EDS and the Department to ensure that physical security barriers, controls and processes associated with their operation and effectiveness conform to agreed requirements. The tests are in line with Information Systems Security Standards (ISSS).