Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government how, in developing the industrial strategy following their consultation on Invest 2035: the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy published in October 2024, the Department for Business and Trade will work with Skills England to ensure a strong pipeline of skilled professionals in the technology and cybersecurity sector.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Industrial Strategy Green Paper is clear that the people that create and work in businesses will be central to the success of the growth-driving sectors and clusters. The government has established Skills England to better understand current and future skills requirements and is developing proposals to ensure the skills system supports employers to develop a pipeline of skilled workers to meet their needs, including in technology and cybersecurity. This will also complement existing skills efforts led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, who oversee the current CyberFirst programme and the work of the UK Cyber Security Council.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology has had with other Cabinet ministers on (1) the scarcity of cybersecurity skills in the UK, and (2) the potential impact of the forthcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill on the availability of cybersecurity talent.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Cyber criminals are attacking our public services and businesses with increased frequency, costing billions of pounds per year. The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will protect more digital businesses than ever, essential services that the public rely on and our national security. The government is committed to minimising additional costs to business and will set out a full assessment of this in an impact assessment, to be published upon introduction of the Bill.

My department is working across government, including working closely with departments who act as cyber sector regulators, to deliver the government’s commitment to reducing the gap in cyber skills. Our assessment of this is set out in the Cyber Security Skills in the UK Labour Market Survey. The priority skillset for the Bill will be the Audit and Assurance specialism, as defined by the UK Cyber Security Council. We have made strides in reducing the gap in these skills this year with a reported fall to 18%, down from 28% in 2023.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to their policy statement on the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, published on 1 April, what assessment they have made of the potential increase in regulatory burdens on cybersecurity professionals.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Cyber criminals are attacking our public services and businesses with increased frequency, costing billions of pounds per year. The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will protect more digital businesses than ever, essential services that the public rely on and our national security. The government is committed to minimising additional costs to business and will set out a full assessment of this in an impact assessment, to be published upon introduction of the Bill.

My department is working across government, including working closely with departments who act as cyber sector regulators, to deliver the government’s commitment to reducing the gap in cyber skills. Our assessment of this is set out in the Cyber Security Skills in the UK Labour Market Survey. The priority skillset for the Bill will be the Audit and Assurance specialism, as defined by the UK Cyber Security Council. We have made strides in reducing the gap in these skills this year with a reported fall to 18%, down from 28% in 2023.

Found: AMENDMENT 32 Clause 28 32_ Clause 28, page 30, line 32, leave out subsections (3) and (4) 32A★_ Viscount Camrose