Andrew Rosindell M.P., Member of Parliament for Romford, warns Parliament about the growing cyber threat to Britain’s national infrastructure and democratic institutions.
Every aspect of public life is at risk, whether that's critical data leaks, transport chaos, or even a shutdown of Government.
We need to defend our country against this pernicious national security risk.
The United Kingdom is increasingly and uniquely vulnerable to malicious cyber-activity targeting national infrastructure and democratic institutions, including Parliament itself. That poses a serious risk to our national security. Experts have warned of a critical data leak, a new scale of severe blackouts, transport disruption and even Government being brought to a halt. What action is the Minister’s Department taking to ensure that the Government are prepared and sufficiently resourced to meet this pernicious national security threat?
Andrew Rosindell M.P., Member of Parliament for Romford
I understand why the hon. Gentleman raises this issue, and he is right to do so. The Government take the threats we face incredibly seriously. That is one of the reasons why the Prime Minister took the decision back in September to ensure that the Security Minister sits across both the Cabinet Office and the Home Office, so we are better placed as a Government to co-ordinate our national security response in the areas the hon. Gentleman outlined. I can give him and the House an absolute assurance on the seriousness we attach to these issues. We take them very seriously and we are working at pace to address them.
Dan Jarvis M.P. M.B.E., Minister of State for Security
