Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The context is the increasing offshoring of cyber-support roles and the production of skilled cyber-security professionals at Ebbw Vale college. There is a focus on developing home-grown workforce to reduce risks from cyber-attacks.
There has been a tendency to offshore much cyber-support, but we are producing excellent cyber-security talent at Ebbw Vale college to protect our digital infrastructure. Will the Minister please outline what is being done to develop our home-grown workforce and security resilience to help reduce the risks from cyber-attacks in future?
Skills are the foundation of the UK’s cyber-security, and the Government are investing £187 million in the TechFirst programme. That initiative will bring digital skills and AI learning into classrooms and communities, and aims to reach 1 million students by 2026 and provide a thousand annual scholarships. Those skills projects will help bridge the gap in our cyber-resilience.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Cyber-crime and fraud have become the most common crimes in the UK, accounting for about 50% of all offences. This issue costs the economy billions of pounds per year, highlighting the need for additional funding to train professionals.
May I thank the Minister for his answers? They are always very helpful. Cyber-crime and fraud are now the most common crime in the UK, accounting for some 50% of all offences and costing the economy billions of pounds per year. Will he please discuss with Cabinet colleagues providing additional funding to ensure that our universities and colleges can provide high-level training in cyber-security, and to ensure—if he does not mind my saying so—that Belfast’s title of cyber-security capital is retained?
I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman, as I always am, for the important points that he raises. I think he knows how seriously we take these issues. We are doing a lot of work to support the victims of cyber-crime and providing free guidance, tools and incident response advice through the National Cyber Security Centre, alongside targeted awareness campaigns.
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Assessment & feedback
The request for additional funding for university courses was not directly addressed.
Response accuracy