Cyber Threats to Public Institutions and Services 2024-04-25
2024-04-25
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the increasing cyber threats facing public institutions and services in the UK.
What steps his Department is taking to protect public institutions and services from cyber threats. The cyber threat facing the United Kingdom is intensifying, with state and non-state actors targeting critical national infrastructure, businesses, and democratic institutions.
The Government have introduced a new national cyber strategy taking a whole-of-society approach. High standards of cyber-protection are set for critical industries, and advice is offered to institutions, businesses, and individuals through the help of world-leading agencies.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific steps and mechanisms not detailed
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Q2
Partial Answer
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The MP raises concerns about the future supply of cyber professionals to protect against increasing threats in finance, energy, and retail sectors.
Cyber-security is crucial for defence as well as other sectors like finance, energy, and retail. There are fears about the future supply of cyber professionals. The MP highlights pioneering work at Ebbw Vale College in his constituency and asks what is being done to onshore these critical roles to protect the economy from attacks.
We need to do more at secondary school level to encourage more children into cyber-security. The hon. Gentleman is right that we have tremendous strengths in national cyber security and there are many relevant institutions around the country.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific initiatives or measures not detailed
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Q3
Direct Answer
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The MP raises concern about weak cyber security compromising elected representatives and leading to information extraction.
Could the Minister update on what he is doing to provide support and technology specifically to elected representatives to ensure this does not happen in the future?
We established the National Cyber Security Centre, which brings together GCHQ expertise with that of various departments. Through NCSC, we work with House authorities for advice on equipment and security of Members of Parliament. I urge them to contact directly if they have concerns.
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Q4
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP highlights a sophisticated ransomware attack on Leicester City Council that disrupted services and inconvenienced constituents. He asks about urgent support and guidance offered to local councils.
What urgent support and guidance is he offering local councils, such as mine in Leicester, given more ransomware attacks?
We are working on remediation through the National Cyber Security Centre. To prevent such attacks, £2.6 billion was invested in a national cyber strategy to improve cyber-resilience and reduce legacy technology. We continuously improve performance with intelligence agencies and NCSC.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy