Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have taken part in the Cyber Security Challenge Competition in each year since its inception.

Cyber security skills and talent are vital to protecting the UK. The Cyber Security Challenge UK competition aims to bring more talented people into the cyber security profession and address a critical skills shortage that affects government bodies, businesses and citizens alike. The number of people who have taken part in the Cyber Security Challenge Competition each year since its inception is as follows:

• 2011 – 4,000;

• 2012 – 2,785;

• 2013 – 2,910;

• 2014 – 2,104;

• 2015 – 7,018