Covid-19: Security Risks Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Ministry of Defence

Covid-19: Security Risks

Lord Alton of Liverpool Excerpts
Tuesday 19th May 2020

(4 years, 6 months ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Baroness Goldie Portrait Baroness Goldie
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

In relation to NATO in particular, we are a principal contributor of funding to support efforts against misinformation by using cyber intelligence to counter it. On the specific question of what the Government are doing, it crosses a range of activity beyond the MoD. My noble friend will be aware that there has been leadership from the Prime Minister downwards, seeking to call out disinformation and misinformation for what it is, and we all have a role to play in doing that.

Lord Alton of Liverpool Portrait Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB)
- Hansard - -

My Lords what consideration are the noble Baroness and NATO giving to a new report which reveals that members of the Five Eyes are strategically dependent on China for 831 separate categories of imports, of which 260 involve elements of critical national infrastructure?

Baroness Goldie Portrait Baroness Goldie
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

NATO and the member partners always have an interest in reliance on export and import sources. Obviously, it is for individual nation states to determine how and with whom they trade. We have to recognise that that is a necessary freedom in the free flow of trade internationally.