Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill

(Limited Text - Ministerial Extracts only)

3rd reading
Monday 2nd November 2026 Lords Chamber

Moved by

[Baroness Smith of Basildon]

That the Bill be now read a third time.

[The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Smith of Basildon) (Lab)]

My Lords, I have it in command from His Majesty the King to acquaint the House that his Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill, has consented to place his interests, so far as they are affected by the Bill, at the disposal of Parliament for the purposes of the Bill.

Bill read a third time.

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Moved by

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra]

1: Clause 2, page 1, line 10, leave out “centres” and insert “centre services”
Member’s explanatory statement
This amendment would improve the drafting by aligning the language in this provision with the language used elsewhere in the Bill.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Lloyd of Effra) (Lab)]

The amendments in this group seek to tighten the drafting for consistency and clarity, first, by amending Clause 2 to refer to “data centre services” rather than “data centres”; and, secondly, by amending Clauses 24, 36 and 42 to refer to Clause 30(5) when defining “regulated person”.

Amendment 1 agreed.

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Moved by

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra]

2: Clause 24, page 53, line 39, at end insert “and (5)”
Member’s explanatory statement
This amendment and my amendments to Clauses 36 and 42 would add clarity by signposting Clause 30(5) which provides for persons to be treated as specified for the purposes of Clause 30(2). Such persons are included in the definition of “regulated person” in Chapters 3 and 4 of Part 3.

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Moved by

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra]

3: Clause 36, page 65, line 13, at end insert “(and see also section 30(5))”
Member’s explanatory statement
See the explanatory statement to my amendment to Clause 24.

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Moved by

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra]

4: Clause 42, page 68, line 26, after “section 30(2)” insert “(and see also section 30(5))”
Member’s explanatory statement
See the explanatory statement to my amendment to Clause 24.

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Moved by

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra]

That the Bill do now pass.

[Lord Clement-Jones (LD)]

My Lords, as we reach Third Reading and the Bill goes back to the Commons, we need to take account of where the Bill now stands and the choices before us. With the successful passage of Amendment 163 on Report, this House has insisted on a vital regime-wide effectiveness review to address critical gaps in our cyber defences. The decision now rests squarely with the Government whether to engage in parliamentary ping-pong or accept this amendment as a sensible and constructive way forward.

Throughout our scrutiny, we must acknowledge the positive steps that the Government have made, including introducing provisions on high-risk vendors and strengthening incident reporting thresholds. As the Government’s own announcements last month on AI loss of control demonstrate, Ministers are finally waking up to the risks we have highlighted, but threats are moving too fast for half measures or delayed reviews.

I gather that we cannot now indulge in thanking colleagues on these and other Benches and outside organisations. All I can say is that you know who you are and I am grateful. I urge the House to support the “do now pass” Motion.

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[Viscount Camrose (Con)]

My Lords, I thank the Minister for bringing forward today’s amendments, to which we had no objection as they are technical amendments. In this new spirit of brief “do now pass” debates, I will not raise any substantive points, except to join others in thanking the Minister for her collaborative, consultative, and very open and thorough approach throughout the passage of the Bill thus far. As and when it comes back to your Lordships’ House, we look forward to continuing the debate in the same spirit. Meanwhile, I thank the Minister and all noble Lords who participated so well in the Bill’s productive passage so far.

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)]

My Lords, I did not intend to make a substantive contribution, as the Government Front Bench intends to proceed in line with the Companion guidance, recently reinforced by this House through the first report from the Procedure Committee, that the “do now pass” Motion is usually moved formally. I have noted the points made by the noble Lords, Lord Alton and Lord Clement-Jones, the noble Baroness, Lady Neville-Jones, and the noble Viscount, Lord Camrose, relating to the substance of the Bill, which I am sure we will return to. I am very grateful for the engagement on the Bill, which will increase the UK’s defences against cyber attacks, better protecting the services that the public rely on to go about their normal lives.