Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of the use of Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules in (a) government (i) properties and (ii) services and (b) national infrastructure; and what steps he is taking to mitigate potential risks of the use of those modules.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Hon Member for Glasgow South to my answer on 26 July 2023 (UIN 194823).
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
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 adequacy of the regulatory framework for Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is monitoring the security threats unique to cellular internet-of-things modules. We have already taken action to ensure that emerging security threats relating to consumer IoT products can be addressed through the security regime established by the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022. We will introduce further security requirements using the powers in this Act if necessitated by the evolving threat landscape. The Integrated Review Refresh, published in March 2023, highlighted the challenge posed by China. The Government is updating the UK’s approach to China to keep pace with the evolving challenge it poses to the international order.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the security and privacy of patient data transmitted through Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department keeps the security issues associated with internet facing technology/components, including implications for patient data, under close review as part of its overall approach to security, and in line with Government Security Group, National Protective Security Authority and National Cyber Security Centre guidance. The Data Security and Protection Toolkit, which sets the cyber security standard for health and care organisations, sets out expectations regarding organisations using appropriate technical controls, such as encryption, to protect data.
The National Security and Investment Act allows the Government to intervene where foreign direct investment is targeted at innovative companies within the United Kingdom. Where such investment is within critical sectors, it is mandatory to notify the Government and this is subject to thorough assessment by the national security community. The Procurement Bill will also provide powers for the Government to exclude and debar companies from public procurement where the Government assesses there to be an intolerable national security risk.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 25 July 2023 to Question 194820 on Smart Devices: China, which areas of the transport sector employ cellular internet of things module technology as of 22 November 2023.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
A cellular internet of things (IoT) device can be considered to be a low-power device with long battery life, which sends small amounts of data on an infrequent basis. The UK’s transport sector currently employs only a limited amount of devices that match this specification. As mobile network operators upgrade their networks, new low-power wide-area networks are emerging that have been developed to enable a wide range of IoT devices and services as part of the continued development and roll out of 5G connectivity.
Lead Government Departments, informed by threat assessments from a range of organisations, are responsible for leading work to determine national security risks to critical national infrastructure in their sectors. This is done in collaboration with partners including the National Cyber Security Centre and National Protective Security Authority as UK national technical authorities for cyber and physical security.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 25 July 2023 to Question 194820 on Smart Devices: China, which agency is responsible for monitoring the potential security threat posed by Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules in critical infrastructure.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Lead Government Departments, informed by threat assessments from a range of organisations, are responsible for leading work to determine national security risks to critical national infrastructure in their sectors. This is done in collaboration with partners including the National Cyber Security Centre and National Protective Security Authority as UK national technical authorities for cyber and physical security.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to the Answer of 21 November 2023 to Question 1621 on Sri Lanka: Ports, how much UK funding was allocated for infrastructure projects that received funding under the Belt and Road Initiative in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There is no formal definition of what is or what is not a Belt and Road Initiative project. China is an important source of trade and investment for many countries, but we recognise that this also presents risks. China cannot be ignored, but we must be clear eyed. In HMG's engagement, we will always work to protect ourselves, our democracy and our economy. HMG's policy on China is set out in the Integrated Review Refresh.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Colombo Port City project on geopolitical stability; and what steps he is taking to help mitigate that impact.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Sri Lankan Government and Chinese Governments jointly launched the Port City Colombo development project in 2014. China is an important source of trade, investment and support for many countries with infrastructure, including under a Belt and Road Initiative badge, helping fill the global infrastructure gap alongside other infrastructure initiatives. However, we recognise the potential risks that Chinese overseas investment can present, which is why we must be clear eyed. In our engagement, it is vital that we protect ourselves, our democracy and our economy at home. HMG's policy on China is set out in the Integrated Review Refresh.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the potential use of the Colombo Port City project in Sri Lanka as a Chinese military outpost.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Sri Lankan Government and Chinese Governments jointly launched the Port City Colombo development project in 2014. China is an important source of trade, investment and support for many countries with infrastructure, including under a Belt and Road Initiative badge, helping fill the global infrastructure gap alongside other infrastructure initiatives. However, we recognise the potential risks that Chinese overseas investment can present, which is why we must be clear eyed. In our engagement, it is vital that we protect ourselves, our democracy and our economy at home. HMG's policy on China is set out in the Integrated Review Refresh.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Chinese counterpart on the Colombo Port City project.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Sri Lankan Government and Chinese Governments jointly launched the Port City Colombo development project in 2014. China is an important source of trade, investment and support for many countries with infrastructure, including under a Belt and Road Initiative badge, helping fill the global infrastructure gap alongside other infrastructure initiatives. However, we recognise the potential risks that Chinese overseas investment can present, which is why we must be clear eyed. In our engagement, it is vital that we protect ourselves, our democracy and our economy at home. HMG's policy on China is set out in the Integrated Review Refresh.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament report entitled China, published on 13 July 2023, what recent steps his Department has taken to mitigate the potential risks highlighted in that report associated with UK-China investment initiatives.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
As highlighted in the government’s response to the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament’s report on China, the government will not hesitate to use our powers to protect national security where we identify concerns.
The government continues to provide guidance to businesses to protect investments, including the National Protective Security Authority’s ‘Secure Innovation Campaign’.
The government has powers under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 to scrutinise and, where necessary, intervene in acquisitions of control over entities and assets in or linked to the UK that may pose national security risks. Of the 15 final orders issued during the 2022-2023 financial year, eight involved acquirers associated with China. The government carefully monitors the effect of this system in mitigating risks. This includes seeking frequent feedback, such as through the recent Call for Evidence launched on 13 November 2023.
The steps the government has taken related to the China report recommendations can be found in the Government Response to the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament Report ‘China’: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-the-isc-china-report