Oral Answers to Questions

Chi Onwurah Excerpts

Monday 20th May 2024 Commons Chamber

[Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab)]

15. What recent assessment he has made of the level of risk posed by hostile cyber-activity to the UK’s security.

[The Minister for Armed Forces (Leo Docherty)]

We take the risk of hostile cyber-activity very seriously. Our Department contributes to the national security risk assessment and the national risk register, and of course plays a key role in delivering the national cyber strategy to respond to hostile cyber-activity against the UK.

[Chi Onwurah]

British cyber-security is among the best in the world, as the sector has innovative companies employing 58,000 people and revenues of £10 billion or more. Under this Government, though, the Ministry of Defence’s record on cyber-security only gets worse, with breaches tripling over the last five years. What steps is the Minister taking to work with British cyber-security innovators to overcome his Government’s lax record on cyber-security, to support British innovation and, crucially, to keep our armed forces safe?

[Leo Docherty]

We are doing all those things at pace and, of course, the scale of the challenge is very significant. We are injecting a huge amount of money and institutional energy into ensuring that our cyber-defences are up to scratch. We are at the point of the spear when it comes to defensive cyber, as illustrated by the brilliant men and women who are part of our National Cyber Force, and we commend them.