Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cyber-threats

Thursday 26 May 2022 · 3 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department is implementing the national cyber strategy 2022 with a budget of 2.6 billion to enhance skills and secure tech design.
  • Government is setting up a dedicated anti-fraud mission by the intelligence community and publishing a new threat strategy.
  • New powers under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 provide greater oversight of investments to address critical infrastructure threats.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Steven Baker Con
Crime & Law Enforcement Defence
Context

The question concerns the UK's strategy against cyber-threats, including measures to enhance national skills and protect critical infrastructure.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to strengthen the UK's defences against cyber-threats. Given that fraud is one of the main purposes of cyber-attack, will the Government take the advice of the Royal United Services Institute to make cyber-security and tackling fraud a national security priority?

Answer from Julia Lopez

My Department is delivering the national cyber strategy 2022 with £2.6 billion, focusing on enhancing skills through the UK Cyber Security Council and ensuring secure tech design. We are also setting up a dedicated anti-fraud mission by the intelligence community and publishing a new threat strategy this year. The Online Safety Bill will tackle online fraud.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific advice from the Royal United Services Institute was not directly addressed.

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Q2 Steven Baker Con
Crime & Law Enforcement Science & Technology
Context

Concerning fraud as a significant purpose of cyber-attacks, the question seeks to understand if the government is making tackling this issue a national security priority.

Question

Will the Government take the advice of the Royal United Services Institute to make cyber-security and tackling fraud a national security priority?

Answer from Julia Lopez

My hon. Friend raises an important issue. The Government are taking significant action with our national cyber strategy, securing funding for an anti-fraud mission by the intelligence community and publishing a new threat strategy this year. We introduced the Online Safety Bill to tackle online fraud.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific advice from the Royal United Services Institute was not directly addressed.

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Q3 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Defence Community Security
Context

The question addresses the threats posed by cyber-attacks on critical national infrastructure, seeking an assessment of these threats.

Question

What assessment has the Minister made of both the threats on downing critical infrastructure in the UK and how we overcome and challenge the people who seek to do it?

Answer from Julia Lopez

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his serious concern on this issue. We have new powers in place like the National Security and Investment Act 2021, giving us greater oversight of investments. I assure him that I am doing a lot of work in this space.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The detailed assessment and specific actions against threats to critical infrastructure were not provided.

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