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Wednesday Volume 618 14 December 2016 No. 81 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 14 December 2016 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2016 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 773 14 DECEMBER 2016 774 Ben Gummer: My hon. Friend raises an important House of Commons point. It is a regrettable fact that, increasingly,cyber-security is an essential part of normal business operations. That Wednesday 14 December 2016 is why we are trying to make it easier for small businesses. We have a new Cyber Essentials scheme, which helps businesses to understand what they need to do to protect The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock themselves. We have a cyber exchange, which provides information about organisations and businesses, and directories that can help small businesses. We also have PRAYERS Action Fraud, which is the mechanism by which businesses can report malicious activity. [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] David Mackintosh: Will my right hon. Friend reassure the House that as well as protecting the nation’s vital BUSINESS BEFORE QUESTIONS infrastructure from cyber-attacks, the Government are taking appropriate steps to protect businesses and ELECTORAL COMMISSION individuals from the threat of such attacks? The VICE-CHAMBERLAIN OF THE HOUSEHOLD reported to the House, That the Address of 1st November, Ben Gummer: I can reassure the House. My hon. praying that Her Majesty will appoint Sir John Holmes Friend rightly raises the issue of wider threats to as the Chair of the Electoral Commission, with effect infrastructure, and that was the purpose behind the from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2020, was presented setting up of the National Cyber Security Centre, where to Her Majesty, who was graciously pleased to comply we bring together all the expertise across Government with the request. to make sure that we are protecting our national The VICE-CHAMBERLAIN OF THE HOUSEHOLD reported infrastructure. I am confident that we will be able to do to the House, That the Address of 1st November, that to a world-leading capacity. praying that Her Majesty will appoint Dame Susan Bruce as an Electoral Commissioner, with effect from Geraint Davies (Swansea West) (Lab/Co-op): We know 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2020, was presented to that Russian cyber-attacks had an impact on the US Her Majesty, who was graciously pleased to comply election, and that Russian bombing in Syria had an with the request. impact on Brexit. What assessment has MI5 made of cyber-attacks in relation to the Brexit output and, indeed, the Scottish referendum? Oral Answers to Questions Ben Gummer: The hon. Gentleman will know that I cannot comment on the operational details of what the security agencies are doing, but he should be reassured that our agencies have some of the best capacities and CABINET OFFICE AND THE CHANCELLOR OF capabilities in the world. They are being funded THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER appropriately, we are making sure that they are doing what they need to do, and they are doing what they The Minister for the Cabinet Office was asked— need to do. Cyber-attack Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (SNP): A cyber-attack earlier this month affecting several 1. Mike Freer (Finchley and Golders Green) (Con): internet service providers resulted in more than 100,000 What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the people across the UK losing their connection. With the UK’s defences against cyber-attack. [907856] economy becoming ever more reliant on digital infrastructure, what further resilience measures are the 6. David Mackintosh (Northampton South) (Con): Government putting in place to protect not only businesses What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the but consumers from such targeted attacks? UK’s defences against cyber-attack. [907862] Ben Gummer: The hon. Lady is entirely right to point The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster out the increasing threat, not only to organisations but General (Ben Gummer): The persistence and ingenuity to individuals as they live their normal lives. That is why of those who would threaten us with cyber- attacks the National Cyber Security Centre has been set up to mean that we need to work even harder to keep pace engage with businesses very early—both on a proactive with the threat. That is why we recently launched our and a preventive basis, but also when there is a cyber-attack, five-year national cyber-security strategy—supported as in the case that she cited—to ensure that customers by £1.9 billion of investment—in which we set out are alerted early, that something is done to protect ambitious steps to respond to that increasing cyber-threat. them, and that we learn from such attacks and make sure that they do not happen again in other parts of the Mike Freer: Many local firms struggle to afford the economy. very best in cyber-protection. Will the Minister explain what more the Government could do to share their 12. [907869] Byron Davies (Gower) (Con): Last week, expertise so that local small and medium-sized enterprises the head of MI6 warned of a “fundamental threat” could benefit from their experience? to Europe from hostile states that use cyber-attacks 775 Oral Answers 14 DECEMBER 2016 Oral Answers 776 as part of a package of measures to subvert the across Government, so that there is a response from democratic process. Tackling this is vital for the future across the Government by the whole of the Government of our democracy. Are the Government fully prepared to something that affects everyone in this country. for and able to defend the UK from such attacks? Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP): Ben Gummer: We are. It would not be for me to add The Minister referred to the benefits of joined-up and to the words of the director general of the Secret efficient Government. For those benefits to be seen and Intelligence Service, but it is important that we protect enjoyed by citizens across the United Kingdom, will he the integrity of our democracy. My hon. Friend can be make a commitment to ongoing discussions with all the assured that all agencies in this country are apprised of devolved legislatures to ensure that best practice is seen the necessity of doing precisely that. and enjoyed by everyone, irrespective of where they live in the UK? Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab): In the light of the Ben Gummer: I will. We can learn a great deal from Russian intervention in the US election and the credible each other. threats to the German election recognised by Chancellor Merkel, will the Minister give the House a guarantee Special Advisers that no cyber-attacks have been carried out on the UK that could have impacted on our democracy? Will he 3. Philip Boswell (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) also inform the House what measures, in addition (SNP): If he will take steps to reduce the cost of special to the cyber-security strategy, his Government will be advisers. [907858] implementing to defend the UK from such attacks in the future? The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Chris Skidmore): Special advisers play an important part in Ben Gummer: I am gratified by the fact that the supporting Ministers to deliver their priorities. The Electoral Commission says that our register is one of Government are committed to making the most efficient the most accurate and secure in the world, but we use of public money. As part of that, we will keep under clearly need to protect the entire integrity of the democratic review the cost of the civil service, which includes process. That is why all security agencies will be making special advisers. sure that our systems are as secure as possible. I am Philip Boswell: The Prime Minister has introduced a grateful to the people working in the National Cyber salary cap for special advisers, but has reported Security Centre for the work they do—a lot of it is very The Times that her own special advisers are not subject to the cap. difficult and technical—which is why we are better How do the Government plan to reassure the public protected than most countries around the world. I that the costs of special advisers are being controlled? intend to make sure that that capability and capacity improve and increase. Chris Skidmore: We are required by the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 to publish an annual Departmental Plans: Joined-up Government report on the number and cost of special advisers, and we will publish an updated list shortly. We will provide 2. Helen Whately (Faversham and Mid Kent) (Con): information about the pay bands of special advisers, as What steps he is taking to use single departmental plans well as the actual salaries of the more senior ones. We to ensure joined-up and efficient Government. [907857] will also provide the total pay bill for special advisers and severance costs, including the severance payments The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster made to the special advisers who recently left the General (Ben Gummer): Single departmental plans represent Government. the Government’splanning and performance management framework. SDPs help the Cabinet Office to ensure that House of Lords Departments deliver the Government’s key priorities, 4. Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington) (Lab): What track progress against manifesto commitments and plans the Government have to bring forward legislative encourage greater efficiencies in Government. proposals to reduce the number of members of the House of Lords.