UK Telecommunications

Pat McFadden Excerpts

Tuesday 28th January 2020 Commons Chamber

[Dominic Raab]

The Government and the various statements that have been made in relation to the security risks have consistently called out China for cyber-attacks and other nefarious ways in which they risk—[Interruption.] I am doing it now, so hopefully my right hon. Friend will be reassured. We are squarely focused on that, but in relation to 5G it is important to assess very specifically, in a targeted way, the nature of the risk and make sure that we have the right tools to deal with that risk. As I said in an earlier answer, the risk of an outright ban is that it is a very blunt tool to deal with a very specific problem, but he is right to say that we have to be very mindful as technology develops in the future.

[Mr Pat McFadden (Wolverhampton South East) (Lab)]

In the discussions with the United States over the Huawei decision, did the US Administration make any linkage between our decision and any potential trade deal between the UK and the US?

[Dominic Raab]

I have never had any conversation where that linkage has been made, and nor am I aware of any.