Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cyber-attacks

Monday 20 May 2024 · 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 UK takes the risk of hostile cyber-activity very seriously and contributes to the national security risk assessment and the national risk register.
  • British cyber-security sector employs 58,000 people and generates revenues of 10 billion or more.
  • The Ministry of Defence is injecting significant resources and institutional energy into improving cyber-defences.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Context

No specific context or incident is mentioned, but the question addresses the general risk assessment of hostile cyber-activity to UK's security.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the level of risk posed by hostile cyber-activity to the UK's security?

Answer from Leo Docherty

We take the risk of hostile cyber-activity very seriously. Our Department contributes to the national security risk assessment and the national risk register, and of course plays a key role in delivering the national cyber strategy to respond to hostile cyber-activity against the UK.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific recent assessment or data provided on the level of risk posed by hostile cyber-activity to the UK's security.

How: We Take The Risk Very Seriously

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Q2 Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Defence
Context

The question highlights the decline in the Ministry of Defence's record on cyber-security, with breaches tripling over the last five years. It also mentions that British cyber-security is among the best in the world, employing 58,000 people and generating £10 billion or more in revenue.

Question

British cyber-security is among the best in the world, as the sector has innovative companies employing 58,000 people and revenues of £10 billion or more. Under this Government, though, the Ministry of Defence's record on cyber-security only gets worse, with breaches tripling over the last five years. What steps is the Minister taking to work with British cyber-security innovators to overcome his Government's lax record on cyber-security, to support British innovation and, crucially, to keep our armed forces safe?

Answer from Leo Docherty

We are doing all those things at pace and, of course, the scale of the challenge is very significant. We are injecting a huge amount of money and institutional energy into ensuring that our cyber-defences are up to scratch. We are at the point of the spear when it comes to defensive cyber, as illustrated by the brilliant men and women who are part of our National Cyber Force.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific steps or measures provided for working with British cyber-security innovators or overcoming the Government's lax record on cyber-security.

How: We Are Doing All Those Things At Pace

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