Who’s Funding UK Cyber Coordinators and For How Much?

The answer provided in the House of Lords yesterday is a partial one [from Hansard, pdf]:

Q: Baroness Neville-Jones [Pauline, shadow Security Minister]:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what (a) funding, and (b) resources, including staff numbers, have been allocated to (1) the Office of Cyber Security, and (2) the Cyber Security Operations Centre.

A: Baroness Crawley [Christine, Labour Whip and Cabinet Office spokesperson]:
The Office of Cyber Security (OCS) is allocated £130,000 funding for FY 09-10, while the Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC) has not been allocated a budget for this fiscal year. OCS and CSOC staff costs are being borne by parent departments, with IT set-up costs being borne by a combination of the Cabinet Office (OCS) and GCHQ (CSOC), as host organisation, as well as contributing agencies. The OCS is predicted to have 18 personnel allocated by early 2010. CSOC expects to have a staff of 19 by 10 March (the centre’s initial operating capability—or IOC—date).

Takeaways:

1. The OCS has a £130k budget until the end of March 2010.

2. The OCS staff costs are borne by the Cabinet Office and other departments.

3. The CSOC has no budget for this financial year.

4. The CSOC staff costs are borne by GCHQ?

5. ICT costs for both are being borne by their host agencies (Cabinet Office for OCS, GCHQ for CSOC) and other departments.

6. The OCS will have 18 staff by early 2010.

7. The CSOC will have 19 staff by 10 March.

8. The CSOC will be operational by 10 March.

So, a few more details oozing out of Whitehall c/o parliamentary questions. We wait to hear more …

Update: A slicker report from The Register here.