Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

National Resilience

Thursday 11 May 2023 · 8 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Progress on strengthening national resilience includes testing the emergency alert system successfully.
  • Steps are being taken to secure minimum safe systems for critical sectors through a supply chains and import strategy.
  • A national security committee on economic security is chaired to address challenges in world-class technology capabilities.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Selous Con
Economy
Context

The MP raised the importance of national resilience, a key focus for the government.

Question

What progress has been made on strengthening national resilience?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

One of my priorities at the Cabinet Office is strengthening our national resilience across Government. Last month we tested successfully the emergency alert system, a vital new tool to help us communicate quickly with the public during life-threatening situations, and we will soon publish an updated national risk register to support partners with their resilience plans.

Answered
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Q2 Marco Longhi
Defence Energy Environment
Context

Concerns over reliance on global supply chains have been heightened by recent events like the pandemic and the Ukraine conflict.

Question

What steps are being taken to secure minimum safe systems for critical sectors such as food, water, energy, and defence?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

My hon. Friend is right to highlight this issue. We committed in the integrated review to publish a supply chains and import strategy so that we can strengthen our resilience in critical sectors. We have already developed several sector-specific supply chain resilience strategies and a supply chain resilience framework for the public and private sectors.

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Q3 Andrew Selous Con
Economy Science & Technology
Context

The UK's leading industries, such as semiconductors and AI, are vital for economic strength.

Question

What further measures will be taken to ensure the safety of world-class technology capabilities within the UK?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

My hon. Friend is right that economic security is an emerging challenge; hence, the Prime Minister asked me to chair a new national security committee on economic security focusing on these issues. That committee met last week.

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Q4 Marion Fellows SNP
Defence Scotland
Context

There are concerns about maritime security for Scottish territorial waters.

Question

What is being done to invest in the maritime security of Scotland and its waters?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

Of course the maritime security of the United Kingdom is the utmost priority for this Government. We ensure that Royal Naval vessels are available to patrol waters at all times.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question was about specific investment actions, but the answer only mentioned general patrols.

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Q5 Margaret Ferrier SNP
Economy Climate
Context

There are calls to fast-track national adaptation plans due to climate risks.

Question

What steps are being taken with Cabinet colleagues to fast-track national adaptation planning?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

Our efforts in that area are led by relevant Government Departments. Through the Cabinet Office, I chair the Cabinet Committee on net zero and energy security designed specifically for co-ordinating all areas of Government to deliver on our national and international commitments.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer mentioned coordination efforts but did not provide specific steps or timelines.

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Q6 Tobias Ellwood Con
Science & Technology
Context

Concerns about AI's impact on society and security are rising.

Question

Will the Government consider creating a Minister for artificial intelligence to stay ahead in this fast-moving field?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

My right hon. Friend makes an important point. There are two elements: one is ensuring we exploit AI's opportunities, which sits with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology; the other involves resilience challenges handled by my office as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response outlined responsibilities but did not commit to establishing a new ministerial role specifically for AI.

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Q7 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Context

There is interest in developing a measure of social vulnerability to inform resilience planning.

Question

What steps are being taken to develop a measure for social vulnerability as an indicator of socioeconomic resilience?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

The hon. Gentleman raises an important point. This is a whole United Kingdom effort, exemplified by recent cyber-security conferences in Belfast involving global partners.

Partly answered

Not addressed: While acknowledging the importance of social vulnerability, the response did not provide specific steps for developing measures.

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Q8 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Context

There are concerns about the pace of implementation of action points in the infrastructure resilience framework.

Question

How many of the action points laid out in the December publication have been achieved?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

As the hon. Lady will know, we continue to make considerable progress on all the actions set out in that framework. She is right to highlight challenges, particularly around cyber-resilience; hence, I am conducting a programme stepping up our cyber-resilience.

Partly answered

Not addressed: While acknowledging progress and ongoing efforts, the response did not provide specific details on completed action points.

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