Computers used by MPs, lords and their staff were used to access porn more than 20,000 times a month on average last year, new figures have revealed. In total, more than 247,000 hits were made to x-rated websites via the Parliamentary network.
The numbers revealed by the Express show visits to the steamy sites spiked in April, when 42,000 attempts were made to access sites classed as pornographic by officials – more than 1,300 a day. The next peak was in October, when more than 30,000 hits were logged on the sites. It is not known which specific websites were being accessed, nor how long those accessing them lingered on the sites.
Despite the high overall numbers, the figures actually represent a 29 per cent drop from 2013 when Parliamentarians and their staff racked up a staggering 350,000 hits on pornographic sites. That year showed highs of 75,000 in November and 69,000 in April.
The figures come as disgraced peer Lord Sewel resigns from the Lords having been caught out snorting cocaine and cavorting with prostitutes, further degrading the reputation of the Houses of Parliament and painting it as a place of depravity and moral corruption. Ironically, Lord Sewel had been responsible for enforcing standards in the Upper House.
Commenting on the recent figures, a spokesman for the House of Commons insisted that “clear boundaries” are in place to “discourage inappropriate use” of its network. He added that the numbers may be inflated thanks to sites refreshing, or pop-ups on other sites.
Nonetheless, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, described the numbers involved as “staggering”.
“Some of these ‘visits’ are no doubt the product of pop-ups beyond anybody’s control,” he said, but added: “One would hope that those attempting to access these sites at Parliament could keep their extra-curricular activities safely within their own four walls, as it’s not an appropriate use of time when it’s on the taxpayers’ tab.”
The information leaves the Government open to charges of hypocrisy as it cracks down on porn online. Prime Minister David Cameron has previously vowed to eliminate hardcore porn from the “the darkest corners of the internet”, claiming it is “corroding childhood”.
In 2013 he said: “For a lot of children, watching hardcore pornography is in danger of becoming a rite of passage. I will do whatever it takes to keep our children safe.”
And in April of this year, just before the general election, then Culture Secretary Sajid Javid launched plans to enforce effective age verification on porn sites, saying “As a father to four young children, I worry, like every other parent, how easy it is for them to view explicit material. That is why we need effective controls online that apply to UK and overseas.”
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