Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Kemi Badenoch and Jeremy Wright

Thursday 22nd March 2018 Commons Chamber

[The Attorney General]

We are already doing a great deal to attempt to reassure the judiciary. The hon. and learned Lady is right to say that yesterday Baroness Hale raised, as others have done before her, concerns that the judiciary have expressed about being put in a position where they are expected to make a political judgment. That is not the Government’s intention. We do not expect judges to make political judgments. Indeed, we absolutely want them not to do that. We do want them to be able to interpret the law as it will stand post exit, with all the necessary guidance we can give them. We will continue to work with them to provide the necessary clarity

[Mrs Kemi Badenoch (Saffron Walden) (Con)]

5. What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the application of the rule of law to cyber-activities.

[Mary Robinson (Cheadle) (Con)]

8. What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the application of the rule of law to cyber-activities.

[The Attorney General (Jeremy Wright)]

Cyber-space is not a lawless world. When states and individuals engage in hostile cyber-operations, they are governed by the law, just as they are elsewhere. The UK has always been clear that we consider cyber-space to be governed by the wider rules-based international order that we are proud to promote.

[Mrs Badenoch]

What actions can we take against those countries that we know are carrying out hostile actions in cyber-space?

[The Attorney General]

Many states accept that international law covers cyber-space. In June 2015, there was a decision by 20 United Nations states to confirm that. Interestingly, one of those 20 states was Russia. Our argument, therefore, is that if there is an internationally wrongful act against the UK in cyber-space or anywhere else, the UK is entitled to respond.