Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cyber Resilience

Thursday 31 March 2022 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government has launched a new national cyber security strategy to enhance resilience against cyber attacks.
  • Measures are being taken to protect civil society and the private sector, including collaboration with local authorities.
  • The Government emphasizes the importance of a whole of society approach to address cyber security threats across essential services.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Lee Anderson Reform Ashfield
Ukraine Foreign Affairs Science & Technology
Context

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has raised concerns about cyber attacks on the UK.

Question

What steps is the Government taking to strengthen domestic cyber resilience against potential impacts from Russia's invasion of Ukraine?

Answer from Steve Barclay

Our new national Government cyber security strategy sets out our approach to making the UK more resilient to cyber attacks and countering cyber threats. We have undertaken significant outreach within the Government and critical national infrastructure, including with the UK devolved Administrations, to provide mitigating advice to bolster UK preparedness.

Answered
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Q2 Stuart McDonald SNP
Foreign Affairs
Context

Russian-sourced cyber attacks have risen significantly since the start of Russia's renewed attack on Ukraine.

Question

What steps are the Government taking to help civil society and the private sector protect themselves from Russian cyber attacks, especially considering that EU countries are establishing a cyber security fund?

Answer from Steve Barclay

We have set out a range of measures as part of our whole of Government, whole of society approach. That includes working with local authorities, which have been particular victims, and takes on board the lessons from, for example, the attack on the Irish health system. It includes looking at regulation and helping with procurement so that products fit for cyber risk are bought.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific UK fund or financial support for private sector not mentioned

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Q3 Lee Anderson Reform Ashfield
Education Ukraine Transport
Context

Russia's invasion has raised concerns about daily threats to critical infrastructure like schools and transport.

Question

What lessons have the Government learned from the Russian invasion of Ukraine to prevent cyber attacks on our schools, education, transport system, and all essential services?

Answer from Steve Barclay

My hon. Friend raises an important point. Before the Russian invasion, the rationale for the national cyber strategy that we launched in December was to make the UK more resilient. That requires a whole of society approach but also specific action within Government.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions based on lessons learned from Ukraine not detailed

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Q4 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

The Prime Minister claims to be serious about eradicating Russian influence, yet the Government has not acted on many of the recommendations from a previous Russia report.

Question

Why have the majority of recommendations in the Russia report still not been implemented after two years? How is cyber security accountability within and across Government Departments being addressed?

Answer from Steve Barclay

There is consensus across the House on the need for a whole of society approach on cyber. On the charge that the Government have sat on their hands, the fact that we launched the cyber strategy before the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out shows that that is not correct.

Not addressed: Lack of implementation and accountability issues not addressed directly

How: Redirecting To Positive Actions

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