Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cyber Security Strategy

Thursday 31 March 2022 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Steven Baker questioned the Minister about steps being taken with Cabinet colleagues to reduce cyber crime through the Government's Cyber Security Strategy.
  • The Minister responded that the strategy aims to strengthen public sector cyber resilience, making it harder for cyber criminals to disrupt government functions.
  • Baker also inquired about considering a Royal United Services Institute report recommending fraud be treated as a national security priority to leverage full state resources against overseas-based criminals.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Steven Baker Con
Crime & Law Enforcement Science & Technology
Context

The question arises in the context of addressing cyber crime and enhancing public sector resilience against malicious actors.

Question

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to reduce cyber crime through the Government Cyber Security Strategy?

Answer from Steve Barclay

The Government's cyber security strategy will strengthen the public sector's cyber resilience, making it harder for malicious actors, including cyber criminals, to disrupt Government functions. Building organisational cyber resilience and introducing measures to enable Government to defend as one will ensure that the Government present an increasingly hard target.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps being taken with Cabinet colleagues were not detailed

How: Discussing General Strategy Without Specifics

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Q2 Steven Baker Con
Crime & Law Enforcement Foreign Affairs
Context

The question stems from the Royal United Services Institute's report, 'The Silent Threat,' which calls for fraud to be treated as a national security priority.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend please consider a report by the Royal United Services Institute entitled, “The Silent Threat”, which calls for fraud to be made a national security priority, so that the full machinery of the state can be brought to bear on criminals often based overseas?

Answer from Steve Barclay

My hon. Friend raises an extremely important point, and it is one that Cabinet colleagues are looking at, not only in the context of covid fraud and issues such as bounce back loans, but, as he rightly says, in light of the RUSI report and its recommendations. We are discussing with the Home Office and industry stakeholders how we can best commit to ensuring that all possible action is taken to address the risks from fraud that he identifies.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions being considered were not detailed

How: Discussing Ongoing Discussions Without Specifics

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