Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Cyber-security — [Hannah Bardell in the Chair]

07 May 2024 · 2 other contributors · 7,615 words

Opened by Mark Hendrick Labour (Co-op) Preston

Responding minister: Thomas Tugendhat

Science & Technology

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Mark Hendrick raised concerns about cyber-security — [hannah bardell in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • UK businesses experienced approximately 7.78 million cyber-crimes last year, with half of businesses and around a third of charities reporting cyber-breaches or attacks.
  • Ransomware attacks in the UK have increased by 84%, making the country the second most targeted after the US.
  • The lead MP asked the Government to update the Computer Misuse Act 1990 to protect legitimate cyber-security activities.

Key requests to Government

The lead MP asks the Government to bring forward legal protections for legitimate cyber-security activities, update network and information systems regulations, provide support for small businesses and charities in responding to cyber-attacks, and enhance the UK's cyber skills through a national programme of cyber literacy.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Mark Hendrick Labour (Co-op) Preston

The UK faces significant cyber-threats from various actors including states, state-sponsored groups and criminal organisations. Last year, UK businesses experienced approximately 7.78 million cyber-crimes, with half of businesses and around a third of charities reporting cyber-breaches or attacks. Ransomware attacks have increased by 84%, with the UK being the second most targeted country after the US. The Computer Misuse Act 1990 is outdated and needs updating to enable legitimate cyber-security activities.

Other contributors (2)
  • Dan Jarvis Lab Barnsley North

    Mr Jarvis highlighted the increasing cyber threat and called for updated legislation, particularly to criminalise harmful use of artificial intelligence and deepfakes. He pointed out that outdated Computer Misuse Act (CMA) restricts ethical hacking practices essential for identifying system vulnerabilities. Citing recent reports, he stressed the urgent need for legislative reform given the rising number of cyber-breaches affecting businesses and charities, and the potential catastrophic impact of ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure.

  • Owen Thompson Lab Cardiff North

    Digital technologies are critical to the functioning of society and economy, but they also pose cyber-resilience challenges. The speaker highlighted the need for a collaborative approach between government, public, private, and third sectors to protect against cyber-attacks and enhance resilience. He noted that Scotland's strategic framework for cyber-resilience aims to make the nation digitally secure by addressing ongoing challenges.

Government Response

Thomas Tugendhat

The speaker briefly intervened, stating 'Listen to me.'

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