Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he is considering legislative proposals to strengthen the ability to tackle (a) phishing, (b) online payment fraud and (c) other cybercrime.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
Crimes such as phishing and online payment fraud are already criminalised under the Fraud Act [2006] and the Computer Misuse Act 1990 (CMA). To ensure that online platforms are doing all they can to further protect the public the Government passed the Online Safety Act (OSA) in November 2023. Fraud is included as a priority offence under the Act, which means tech companies are now required to tackle fraudulent content on their platform that is ‘user-generated’ or face the possibility of significant fines. The Act’s fraudulent advertising duty will also require certain categories of companies to stop fraudulent advertising appearing on their platforms.
The Government published the Online Fraud Charter in November 2023; a voluntary agreement with the largest companies in the tech sector, designed to raise best practice across the sector and deliver a much quicker and more targeted response than regulation. As part of the Charter, signatories have committed to supporting the Government’s Stop! Think Fraud campaign. This was a major campaign – across TV, radio, social media and billboards – that aim’s to improve public awareness by streamlining and amplifying messaging. The campaign, and supporting website, will make it easier for the public to recognise fraud and take steps to protect themselves, their family and friends.
Furthermore, the Government is committed to ensuring that the CMA, the UK’s key piece of cybercrime legislation which criminalises unauthorised access to computer systems and data remains up to date and effective to tackle criminality. We are currently reviewing the CMA, and the Home Office will provide an update to Parliament on any proposals that we will take forward in due course.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many times NHS trusts have been victims of ransomware attacks in the last 12 months; and whether (a) data has been (i) lost and (ii) made public and (b) a ransom has been paid in each case.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
A small number of cyber-attacks against National Health Service hospitals have been made public, but the specific details on the number, nature, and subsectors of NHS organisations that have been victims of a ransomware attack in the last twelve months cannot be released, as it may prejudice the prevention or detection of cyber-attacks against the NHS.
Our around-the-clock cyber monitoring across over 1.5 million NHS computers allows us to identify that ransomware is the most significant cyber security threat currently facing the health and social care sector. Automated cyber defences and monitoring by NHS England’s Cyber Operations teams continuously deter, prevent, and disrupt attempts to break into the NHS’ IT systems. The NHS implements the Government’s policy of not condoning ransom payment.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department issues on how (a) schools, (b) NHS trusts and (c) other public bodies should respond to ransomware attacks.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The world leading National Cyber Security Centre provides comprehensive guidance to all UK public bodies on how to respond to ransomware attacks, which can be found. The guidance is clear that central Government funds will not be used by Government departments or Arms Length Bodies (ALBs) to pay ransomware demands and this stance was publicly reiterated in November 2023 when the UK, along with other members of the Counter Ransomware Initiative, signed a joint statement discouraging anyone from paying a ransomware demand.
NHS England and the Department for Education provide bespoke guidance for their respective sectors which is consistent with the wider government’s approach. The Department is committed to harnessing expertise on this subject, including recently hosting a roundtable discussion on academic security with the support of the NCSC, to ensure that guidance continues to be appropriate for the developing threat.
Apr. 25 2024
Source Page: Regulatory Horizons Council: the Future Regulation of Space TechnologiesFound: ownership of data • Costs of data storage • Social implications of global connectivity (extending cybercrime
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many major cyber crime incidents have been reported since the National Cyber Strategy was introduced.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
Since the announcement of the National Cyber Strategy on 15 December 2021, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has received 71 reports associated with cyber crime activity, considered to be significant.
The NCSC categorise incidents based on numerous contemporaneous factors, including but not limited to, the technical impact of the incident, the nature of the affected organisation, and contextual considerations at the time of the incident report being received.
NCSC and law enforcement take action against cyber criminals by taking down their malicious URLs used to defraud people.
Apr. 19 2024
Source Page: G7 foreign ministers' statement in Italy, April 2024Found: We urge countries to enact legislation in line with the provisions of the Convention on Cybercrime of
Written Evidence Apr. 17 2024
Inquiry: FraudFound: City of London Police deliver the national reporting service for fraud and cybercrime; Action Fraud.
Written Evidence Apr. 16 2024
Inquiry: International relations within the multilateral systemFound: For example, on cybercrime, it has been pushing an initiative through the UN to create a universal
Written Evidence Apr. 16 2024
Inquiry: International relations within the multilateral systemFound: Open-ended Working Group on security of and in the Use of ICTs 2021 – 2025, 6 March 2024.convention on cybercrime
Apr. 16 2024
Source Page: UK Government to tackle global financial corruptionFound: Furthermore, digital technologies have expanded opportunities for cybercrime and offered platforms to