Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cyber-security: Local Government Resilience

Thursday 6 March 2025 · 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

  • Ministerial Questions on Cyber-security: Local Government Resilience held on 2025-03-06
  • Ian Lavery raised concerns about local councils' vulnerability to cyber-attacks due to outdated digital infrastructure
  • Sarah Olney expressed concern over US Defence Secretary's decision to step back counter-cyber measures against Russia, highlighting the threat to UK cyber-security from state-backed actors

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ian Lavery Lab Blyth and Ashington
Science & Technology Standards & Ethics Local Government
Context

Local councils are responsible for managing sensitive data, delivering essential services, and responding to emergencies. However, years of underfunding have left their digital infrastructure outdated and vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

Question

Local councils manage mountains of sensitive data, deliver essential services and lead on emergency responses to critical incidents, among much more, yet 15 years of Tory underfunding has left outdated digital infrastructure, leaving them particularly vulnerable to cyber-attack. Does the Minister agree that improving cyber resilience in local authorities is of paramount importance if we are to protect our citizens’ data and continue to deliver essential services without interruption from hostile actors?

Answer from The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Pat McFadden)

My hon. Friend is absolutely right: not all the systems used across central or local government are as up to date as they should be. This is a constant battle and a constant challenge. It is really important that we put every effort into ensuring that we are as well protected as possible against hostile acts from both state and non-state actors.

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Q2 Sarah Olney Lib Dem Richmond Park
Defence Democracy & Elections
Context

The US Defence Secretary has announced the reduction of counter-cyber measures against Russia, raising concerns about the security implications for both the US and UK. The Russian Government is accused of orchestrating a widespread campaign of interference and disinformation.

Question

The US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has this week announced the stepping back of US counter-cyber measures against Russia. This incredibly concerning decision by the Americans threatens not only their cyber-security, but our own. The Russian Government have been accused of orchestrating a widespread campaign of interference and disinformation that seeks to undermine the global order. In 2020, the UK Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee stated that the Government had underestimated the response required to the Russian threat. Can the Minister tell us what further measures the Government are taking to protect British democracy, and will he commit to publishing the full, unredacted Russia report?

Answer from The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Pat McFadden)

We are fully alive to the threat posed by Russian cyber-attacks. I mentioned in my previous answer the threat from state and non-state actors, and there is sometimes a threat from state-backed actors against our public infrastructure. We will work as hard as possible to protect our institutions against such attacks, and our intelligence co-operation with the United States remains a very important part of our defences.

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