Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cyber-security

Thursday 7 September 2023 · 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

  • The Government launched GovAssure to review and enhance cyber-resilience across Departments.
  • The UK faces an increasing external cyber risk due to conflicts like Russia-Ukraine.
  • The National Cyber Security Centre works with GCHQ and the Cabinet Office to set robust standards for Government.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Selous Con
Science & Technology
Context

The question addresses the increasing cyber threats faced by government and business entities, highlighting severe consequences for livelihoods and jobs.

Question

What steps he is taking to ensure cyber-security across Government Departments. These cyber-attacks have been increasing in severity and frequency against Government Departments and major businesses, with potentially devastating consequences for livelihoods and jobs. The questioner seeks specific actions to protect both the public and private sectors using government expertise.

Answer from Oliver Dowden

The Government's cyber-security strategy includes launching GovAssure, a new approach to review and enhance Departments' cyber-resilience. The external risk landscape is increasing due to conflicts like Russia-Ukraine, making the UK one of the most cyber-attacked nations after Ukraine and Russia. A whole-of-Government approach has been adopted with the creation of the National Cyber Security Centre, working with GCHQ and the Cabinet Office to set robust standards in Government and collaborate with businesses to improve their security.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about spreading government expertise across the economy to protect private sector was not directly addressed.

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Q2 Andrew Selous Con
Economy Foreign Affairs Business Compliance
Context

The question arises from the increasing frequency and severity of cyber-attacks, affecting both government departments and major businesses with significant repercussions.

Question

What are we doing in Government to take the expertise that we have acquired within Government to protect Government Departments and to spread it across the economy to protect the private sector as well?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

The external risk landscape has increased due to conflicts like Russia-Ukraine, making the UK one of the most cyber-attacked nations. A whole-of-Government approach includes creating the National Cyber Security Centre to work with GCHQ and the Cabinet Office on robust standards for Government while collaborating with businesses to improve their security.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about spreading government expertise across the economy to protect private sector was not directly addressed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)