Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Chinese companies supplying cellular modules for use in the UK’s critical national infrastructure on national security.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Prime Minister has emphasised that national security is the first duty of our government. The Government has a broad set of tools to safeguard our Critical National Infrastructure, including The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021, The Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018, The Procurement Act 2023 and The Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022.
The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will also be introduced when parliamentary time allows, to deliver a step change in the UK’s national security, requiring essential and digital services in scope to have robust cyber security practices and standards. This will include empowering regulators to designate critical suppliers, ensuring that the most important suppliers to essential and digital services are subject to the regulatory regime.
Any device with a cellular module that is incorporated into the network or systems of UK Critical National Infrastructure will need to comply with that network’s cyber security practices and standards and as such should have robust security controls in place. If such a device falls within scope of The Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 then it will also need to comply with the requirements of that Act.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Chinese-manufactured smart devices in the UK's critical national infrastructure on national security.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
National security is the first duty of our government.
Under the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022, any connected device intended to be used by consumers must meet three basic requirements: no universal default or easily guessable passwords; transparency about the minimum length of time manufacturers will provide security updates; and information on how to report security vulnerabilities directly to manufacturers.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology launched a Call for Views on 12 May 2025 on proposals to strengthen the cyber security of enterprise connected devices. Research commissioned in 2021 by DSIT of 400 businesses showed significant gaps in device security practices with 58% of businesses not requiring security checks when purchasing connected devices. Our Call for Views included a draft Code of Practice, developed with the National Cyber Security Centre, which sets out 11 security principles for manufacturers, covering areas like secure updates, authentication, data protection, and device integrity. Feedback is being considered, and a government response will be published in due course.
The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will also be introduced when parliamentary time allows, to deliver a step change in the UK’s national security, requiring essential and digital services in scope to have robust cyber security practices and standards. This will include empowering regulators to designate critical suppliers, ensuring the most important suppliers to essential and digital services are subject to the regulatory regime.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of raising Statutory Sick Pay for the parents and carers of children with severe health conditions.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Statutory Sick Pay provides financial support to individual employees who are sick or incapable of work. It is not designed to provide financial support for parents or carers who are not able to work because their child is sick or has a health condition.
Parents who cannot work because their child is sick, rather than being directly incapable of work due to sickness themselves, have a number of options open to them such as asking their employer if they can work flexibly or requesting to take emergency leave. Parents may also be eligible to apply for welfare benefits, such as Carer's allowance or Universal Credit, depending on their circumstances.
The Department for Business and Trade is currently developing a consultation on employment rights for carers, including specific measures for the parents and carers of seriously ill children. This will consider what employment rights may help families in such distressing situations. The consultation will take place in 2026.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support the parents and carers of children with severe health conditions.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Supporting children with severe health conditions can be a heartbreaking time for families. The Department for Business and Trade is currently developing a consultation on employment rights for carers, including specific measures for the parents and carers of seriously ill children. This will consider what employment rights may help families in such distressing situations. The consultation will take place in 2026.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Chinese-owned companies establishing turbine manufacturing sites in the UK on national security.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department is committed to working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative and secure. The Government takes the security and resilience of UK energy infrastructure extremely seriously with the UK being one of the most reliable and safest energy systems, and one of the most attractive investment destinations in the world. We take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing relations with China and will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.
I also refer my hon Friend to the replies given on 10 March to Question UIN 34722 and on 11 March to question UIN 34972.