8. Question No. 8—PoliceBRETT HUDSON (National) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 8—Police8. BRETT HUDSON (National) to the Minister of Police: Does he have confidence in New Zealand Police's ability to keep personal and confidential information of firearm owners secure?SPEAKER: As I call the Hon Stuart Nash I will indicate that the Minister has indicated to me this will be a slightly longer than normally acceptable answer.Hon STUART NASH (Minister of Police): Thank you Mr Speaker. I have confidence in the Commissioner of Police to ensure police follow the highest standards for information security. An external IT provider has taken full responsibility for the unauthorised change to software regarding the system used to give effect to the gun buy-back scheme. The company SAP has unreservedly apologised for its error. I can confirm to the House that police advise that the audit log confirms only one firearms dealer who had legitimate access to the system viewed information about others. He says he did nothing with this information. He viewed the details of 34 gun owners. Police have made contact with 32 of them and the remaining two are being visited today to follow up on earlier messages. These people have told police that they are generally very appreciative of the contact and are understanding of the circumstances surrounding the breach.Brett Hudson: Is the Minister aware that that person in question accessed the system using their personal firearms licence information not their dealer licence information?Hon STUART NASH: What I can confirm is that SAP has unreservedly apologised for the unauthorised changes that they made to the system and they have taken full responsibility for this.Brett Hudson: Would he be concerned if letters were sent to firearms owners from the New Zealand Police clearly showing occupation and firearms licence number on the unopened envelope?Hon STUART NASH: I am aware that letters have been sent in envelopes that contain windows. I'm also aware that there have been no complaints—well I'm led to understand—from the people who were sent the letters and I also understand it would actually be incredibly difficult to identify the information contained within those envelopes.Brett Hudson: Does he agree that revealing the occupation of an armourer and their address could indicate to anyone who saw that information that there are likely multiple firearms at that address?Hon STUART NASH: I'm unaware of that but if anyone wants to know who the armourers are around this country I'm assuming it's pretty easy to find out.Brett Hudson: Does he agree with the Cabinet Manual which states at paragraph 3.27: Ministers are accountable to the House for ensuring that the departments for which they are responsible carry out their functions properly and efficiently. On occasion a Minister may be required to account for the actions of a department when errors are made"—SPEAKER: Order! Stop the question! This is not an area of responsibility for this Minister.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Have you just ruled that a Cabinet Minister is not responsible for understanding what's in the Cabinet Manual?SPEAKER: No that wasn't the question.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Well it was in actual fact.SPEAKER: That was not what the question was Mr Brownlee.Brett Hudson: Will he apologise to the individuals who had confidential information about themselves accessed under his watch?Hon STUART NASH: As I said on Tuesday SAP have admitted responsibility for this. What I will apologise for is if any of these people have suffered any form of emotional harm or trauma. But as mentioned the New Zealand Police has been in touch with every single one of these gun owners except two who they have tried multiple times and they are visiting these two people today."