Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with the Science and Technology Facilities Council on their (a) cybersecurity and (b) procedures to prevent cyber and ransomware attacks since July 2024; and how many such incidents have occurred since July 2024.

Ministers and officials meet regularly with industry stakeholders and public bodies to discuss cyber security and bolstering cyber resilience. The National Cyber Security Centre offers range of support and guidance showing businesses, agencies and government departments how to protect against cyber attacks. The Cyber Breaches Survey 2024 shows that 50% of businesses report having experienced some form of cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months. The Government recognises the importance of strengthening the UK’s cyber resilience and protecting the digital economy to deliver growth. To address this, the Government is introducing a Cyber Security and Resilience Bill. The Bill will strengthen the UK’s cyber defences and ensure that more essential digital services than ever before are protected. On 14 January the government published a consultation on proposals to further protect businesses and public services from ransomware attacks.