To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the number of computer viruses originating in the UK; and how many prosecutions there have been for offences related to writing viruses and malicious software in each of the last five years. (294927)

I have been asked to reply.

The Government have not made an assessment of the number of computer viruses originating in the UK.

The Government have made changes to the Computer Misuse Act 1990, through the Police and Justice Act 2006, to make it an offence to make, supply or obtain articles for use in computer misuse offences, such as malicious software and viruses. The changes were enacted on 1 October 2008. The figures for prosecutions under this offence are not yet available.