Undersea Cables

Debate between Lord Vallance of Balham and Lord Rogan

Tuesday 3rd December 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Vallance of Balham (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord for the question. It is quite a long way from my brief in DSIT. If I may, I shall try to get somebody to answer it for him.

[Lord Rogan (UUP)]

My Lords, according to experts, around 75% of transatlantic undersea cables in the northern hemisphere pass through or near Irish Sea waters. As a country that spends around 0.2% of its GDP on security and defence, the Republic of Ireland does not possess anywhere near the capability to protect them. Has this job fallen to the United Kingdom Government? If so, who is paying the bill?

[Lord Vallance of Balham (Lab)]

The detection of breaks is done from land, but the ability to repair them is through an agreement with the commercial companies, which pay into a fund that allows a ship to be on 24/7 standby to provide protection. That is paid for by the companies that put the cables in place.