Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to his oral statement of 14 July 2020 on UK Telecommunications, what risk assessment his Department (a) made and (b) received on the potential effect of allowing use of Huawei technology in the (a) 2G, (b) 3G and (c) 4G networks; and whether the short technical consultation with operators to understand their supply chain alternatives will involve such a risk assessment.

The details of Huawei’s entry into the UK market and associated decision making were subject of an inquiry by the Intelligence and Security Committee into ‘Foreign involvement in the Critical National Infrastructure - The implications for national security’. The findings of which were published in June 2013 followed by the government response in July 2013.

The position for legacy networks has not changed, our world class mitigation arrangements will remain in place and we will continue to work with operators to mitigate risks. Huawei’s current operations in the UK are subject to the strongest oversight possible through the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre and Oversight Board. The recent US sanctions impact future Huawei equipment - including 5G, full fibre and beyond.

The technical consultation announced as part of the oral statement on 14 July applies to full fibre only.