Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Global Cyber Threat

Thursday 9 June 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 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government are working with international partners, including the Five Eyes alliance, to mitigate the cyber-threat posed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
  • The UK is spending 2.6 billion over three years to counter the cyber-threat, enhancing both defensive and offensive capabilities.
  • The National Security Bill and Online Safety Bill aim to address foreign interference and compel big tech platforms to proactively identify and address cyber-security threats.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Damian Collins Con
Ukraine Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

Russia's ongoing military operations in Ukraine have raised concerns about an increase in global cyber threats.

Question

What steps his Department is taking with international partners in response to the global cyber-threat posed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine?

Answer from Steve Barclay

The Government are dedicating significant resources to understanding and countering Russia's cyber-threat, working with our allies. That has included joint advisories with our Five Eyes partners on how to mitigate that threat.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions and details of the steps being taken were not provided

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Q2 Giles Watling Con
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

Cyber-attacks have become a daily occurrence against various entities in the UK, causing significant concern about security.

Question

With daily cyber-attacks against this place as well as institutions and companies across the country, what are we doing to stem the tide of aggression from Russia?

Answer from Steve Barclay

My hon. Friend raises an important point. We are spending £2.6 billion over the next three years to counter that threat. That is additional to the significant funding going into the National Cyber Force, which gives us offensive capability as well. Alongside that, we have a whole of society approach as set out in our national cyber strategy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions and details on stemming the tide of aggression were not provided

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Q3 Damian Collins Con
Democracy & Elections Foreign Affairs
Context

There are concerns about disinformation campaigns that pose cyber-security threats and the role of tech platforms in addressing them.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that disinformation campaigns from hostile foreign states such as Russia also pose a cyber-security threat and that it is important that tech platforms work closely with the intelligence services and the Cabinet Office to identify proactively those threats and to address them?

Answer from Steve Barclay

My hon. Friend is right on that. I know that he has taken a close, long-term interest in the issue, so he will be aware both of the provisions in the National Security Bill on capturing foreign interference as an offence and of the measures in the Online Safety Bill that will force big tech platforms to take action on disinformation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions or commitments were not provided, only referencing existing bills

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Q4 Margaret Ferrier SNP
Foreign Affairs Science & Technology
Context

The United States has expressed concern over potential cyber-attacks on major infrastructure operators, raising questions about the threat level to UK interests.

Question

I wish you a very happy birthday for tomorrow, Mr Speaker. The US has voiced concern about potential cyber-attacks on major infrastructure operators. What recent assessment has been made of the threat level to UK interests and what additional steps have the Government taken to address it?

Answer from Steve Barclay

The assessment is a sobering one. If I just take online scams as one example of cyber risk, there has been a fourfold increase from 2020, with the national cyber strategy seen as thwarting 2.7 million online scams. I am sure the hon. Member and the House will agree that this is a UK-wide threat. That is why we are working closely with the devolved Administrations and industry to look at our skills, taking both a whole of society approach and a whole of the United Kingdom approach to countering that risk.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps and assessments were not detailed, only general approaches mentioned

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