Ben Spencer MP: speeches

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Speeches

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Fifth sitting) · Hansard source
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    It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr Murrison, and it is always a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. I will speak to clauses 15 and 16 and to new clauses 6 and 7, tabled in my name on behalf of His Majesty’s loyal Opposition. The previous Government stated in their consultation covering the subject of cyber-incident reporting that security breaches that did not result in a successful attack could still leave organisations open to follow-up attacks. It was identified that reporting how the breach took place would also allow regulators and other organisations to prepare for similar attacks in the future. It is therefore a welcome development that clause 15 significantly increases the scope and speed of cyber-incident reporting by regulated entities to competent authorities and the NCSC. That increase in scope is achieved by broadening the definition of reportable incidents from the current position, where only cyber-attacks having an actual adverse effect are reportable, to a position to where cyber-incidents that are capable of having an adverse effect on the operation or security of network and information systems must also be reported. The Government’s explanatory notes for the Bill state that this change in definition “is designed to include incidents that have compromised the integrity or security of a system without causing significant disruption yet, but that could have potential significant impacts in the future.” This has been broadly welcomed by industry stakeholders as a measure that should provide regulators with greater intelligence about emerging threats, leading to improved risk management and hardened resilience in their sectors. On the importance of intelligence gathering, we heard evidence from David Cook of DLA Piper and Chung Ching Kwong of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, among others, about the increasing use of prepositioning and “live off the land” technologies deployed by malicious actors. Once systems are infiltrated, attackers remain in systems, sometimes harvesting data, waiting for the moment when they can cause maximum harm and disruption. Those serious risks should be flagged to regulators wherever they are identified. Dr Sanjana Mehta of ISC2 described problems of underreporting in relation to the existing NIS regulations regime, and welcomed the principle of expanding reporting, as did Jill Broom of techUK. However, both cautioned that while some high-level factors have been provided as to the criteria indicating whether an attack should be reported, such as the number of users, impact, duration of interruption and geographical reach, what is not clear at present are the thresholds that are linked to those criteria. Those details are vital if reporting is to be successful in ensuring that regulators are kept appraised of the most serious threats. Dr Mehta summarised that concern succinctly in her comment: “In the absence of those thresholds, our concern is that regulated entities may be tempted to over-report rather than under-report, thereby creating more demand on the efforts of the regulators”. –– [ Official Report, Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Public Bill Committee, 3 February 2026; c. 16, Q14.] Likewise, techUK has stated in its written briefings on the Bill that “technically any phishing email is ‘capable of’ having a significant impact if the organisation lacks adequate detection or response capabilities. This will lead to over-reporting of low-level incidents and potentially overwhelm regulators, thereby distracting attention from genuinely significant threats.” As in many aspects of the Bill, the problem is not on the principle but in the detail. We heard in oral evidence about the concerns of industry and regulators regarding the availability of suitably qualified personnel to build capacity for effective regulatory oversight. We must be alive to that important consideration in ensuring that thresholds are proportionate and risk-based. The Government have stated in their factsheets on the Bill that they intend “to introduce thresholds through secondary legislation before this measure is brought into in force” and after a period of consultation. They have also said that those thresholds will “clarify the points at which we would consider the impact of an incident to be ‘significant’, and therefore reportable to regulators”. What discussions has the Minister had to date with regulated entities and regulators about the approach to consultation on these thresholds? What is the feedback on what those organisations consider to be reporting priorities?

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Fifth sitting) · Hansard source
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    I will come to my speech, but as we are having a debate on this point, but does the Minister’s answer not risk a gilded defensive posture being set up by MSPs? If they list terms and conditions for the use of their services that essentially bar everything, they can say that any liability—if there is ransomware or they get hacked—is completely on the client, as opposed to themselves. Does the Minister’s explanation not risk MSPs taking a very defensive posture to ensure that the client is liable for any problem? Given that the clients are usually not regulated entities, this provision effectively becomes meaningless.

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Fifth sitting) · Hansard source
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    The Opposition are trying to make it clear that ransomware needs to be in the scope of the reporting. It is really for the Minister to answer if he thinks there are problems with the new clause, and if so, how the Government will go about taking that forward. The widespread and highly damaging nature of ransomware attacks—which are often perpetrated by criminal groups at scale and speed—means that regulators need to have a detailed oversight of this area to prevent those attacks from being deployed more widely. Therefore, the new clause is intended to ensure that all ransomware attacks on regulated entities are reported, regardless of severity or potential severity, so that the risks are picked up. In tabling new clause 6, I am acutely aware of the existing reporting burden for regulated entities and regulators. Since tabling it, we have heard impactful evidence from Carla Baker from Palo Alto, who highlighted the number of cyber incidents and false positives that many companies encounter each day. As I said in response to an intervention, in the absence of measures brought forward by the Government to address the widespread and urgent risks presented by ransomware attacks—and as the Government themselves identify as part of the Home Office’s review—it would be proportionate to make specific reference to ransomware in the reporting requirements on regulated entities in the Bill. New clause 7 reflects the concerns of regulated bodies and industry representatives who have set out many, many times—in oral evidence and beyond—the need to ensure that reporting obligations are clear and, as far as possible, simplified across the many different incident reporting regimes that exist for providers of digital services. The new clause would compel the Secretary of State to publish an assessment of the impact of the new reporting regime on regulated entities in the Bill within 12 months of Royal Assent. Importantly, in line with the clear requests articulated by many stakeholders who gave evidence last Tuesday, it requires the Government to publish proposals for the creation of a single cyber incident reporting channel for relevant bodies.

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Fifth sitting) · Hansard source
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    I very much take the hon. Lady’s point and the constructive spirit in which it was presented. Twelve months is a long time for the operations of Government to function, and I have faith—I will change my words—in the Government and all of their powers if they wanted to put their minds to bringing this forward. If there are concerns about the ability of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to take this forward, those concerns would spill over into all of the consultation requirements that have to be met to make sure that this Bill functions in the correct way. The argument on what we are debating today could swing both ways. Industry stakeholders have expressed strong concerns regarding the diverse incident reporting requirements that exist in several pieces of legislation, including UK GDPR, sector-specific regulation and the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021. As we have already discussed, the Home Office may also bring forward guidelines for reporting ransomware incidents in future. Additional reporting requirements and procedures included in the Bill are viewed as adding a further layer of complexity to a legislative environment that is already very challenging to navigate. Stakeholders report that the current approach, with multiple different reporting procedures and platforms, increases regulatory compliance costs on businesses and detracts from the resources available to implement effective improvements in cyber-resilience. In view of that, will the Minister support this urgently needed review clause to assure industries that the Government have heard their serious and vital concerns on the matter?

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Fifth sitting) · Hansard source
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    Clause 20 grants regulators wide-ranging information-gathering powers, in relation both to regulated entities and to organisations currently outside the scope of the regulations. These new powers will be important to competent authorities in gaining access to the information necessary to consider which businesses should be designated as critical suppliers for their sectors. The Minister will remember that we had a very extensive discussion about the allocation, or otherwise, of critical suppliers. What assurance can he give that requests for information under this new clause will be exercised proportionately? That is especially relevant for SMEs, which might struggle administratively to meet broad requests for information within short deadlines. I know I will be told off by the Chair if I try to rehash the previous debate on clause 12, but one of the points I made during that debate was that the scope of what could fall under the definition of a critical supplier could, in my view, include any supplier to an operator of an essential service. Potentially, therefore, a request for information under this provision could be incredibly broad. Can the Minister give some reassurance about how this will work in practice, relating to the proportionality of data collection? The concern is that this could become a fishing or dredging exercise, rather than something that is proportionate and targeted on the most high-risk suppliers.

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer. Clause 25 introduces a power for the Secretary of State to issue a statement of the Government’s strategic priorities in relation to the security and resilience of network and information systems with regard to essential activities. The statement will set out the responsibilities of regulators and specify objectives to secure the Government’s priorities. Competent authorities must be consulted in the drafting of the statement, and the Secretary of State must issue a report in every 12-month period on regulators’ compliance with meeting the objectives within it. The changes aim to address important challenges around consistency in the approach to regulation that were identified by the previous Government’s second post-implementation review of the NIS regulations. Importantly, the measures also provide for a regular review of competent authorities’ approach to discharging their regulatory obligations. That measure is necessary given the inconsistent approach to oversight and enforcement of the NIS regulations so far. We know that there are existing challenges relating to the capacity of competent authorities and there is the ongoing issue of securing sufficient cyber-security professionals to staff the teams. It is all well and good making statements, but they need to be followed. What strategies does the Minister anticipate will be needed and used to support—and, where necessary, drive up—standards of regulatory oversight when competent authorities fall short of the aims set out in the statement?

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    Clause 43 grants the Secretary of State powers to issue directions to regulate entities where there is a risk to national security, or where an action must be taken in the interests of national security. Directions can include requirements relating to the management of systems, the yielding of information and the removal or modification of goods and services. The Secretary of State may also require a regulated entity to engage the services of a skilled person to comply with directions issued. The Secretary of State has wide discretion to dispense with providing reasons for directions or consulting with the affected parties on the basis of national security considerations. Clause 44 clarifies that the Secretary of State’s directions under part 4 prevail if there is a conflict between those directions and another statutory requirement. The exercise of these powers by the Secretary of State could have far-reaching consequences for businesses, which may experience interruption to their commercial activities, as well as the potentially considerable time and expense in adhering to a request made on national security grounds. I have spoken on several occasions in the House and in this Committee about the critical risks posed to our cyber-security and national security by hostile state actors and their affiliates. It is, of course, right that the Secretary of State should have this power, but it should be used only in extremis. Like other extensive powers granted to the Secretary of State under part 3, it must be subject to oversight and guardrails. A report to Parliament, which may well be redacted, on the exercise of functions under part 4 will not be sufficient to ensure that this power is used proportionately. Has the Department considered introducing an obligation for the Secretary of State to report to the Intelligence and Security Committee when she exercises powers under part 4? We discussed the Chinese super-embassy earlier. Later in the Committee’s proceedings, I will talk about an Opposition new clause that would deal with that problem effectively.

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    Frankly, I find it astounding that, according to my understanding, in response to the planning decision being granted our security services said that they would take measures to start moving sensitive digital cables. It strikes me that a decision about sensitive digital cables should have been pertinent to the planning application in the first place. The Government remain reluctant to name China as a threat to UK national security, despite the overwhelming and growing portfolio of evidence. In case the Government are still in any doubt, we need look only at the oral testimony given to this Committee by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China for a clear picture of the role of China and its state affiliates at the forefront of the cyber-security threats to our critical sectors. Given that established and growing threat, new clause 3 would compel the Secretary of State to review, among other matters, the cyber-security risk to surrounding critical networks in the vicinity of the super-embassy site in the City of London. In the Commons debate on the embassy application in June last year, my hon. Friend the Member for Thirsk and Malton (Kevin Hollinrake) reminded the Minister for Housing and Planning that the Government’s own cyber-security experts, Innovate UK, have warned about the threat to the City of London from the embassy. My hon. Friend made specific reference to the Wapping telephone and internet exchange that would be surrounded on three sides by this new embassy—not to mention the fibre cables I referred to earlier, which carry highly sensitive information and run beneath this site.

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    Clause 36 provides that the Secretary of State may issue a code of practice for regulated entities to set out measures that they should take to demonstrate compliance with their duties under the NIS regulations, or any requirements imposed by the Secretary of State under clause 29. If done well, the code could be a repository of best practice, setting proportionate, consistent and effective standards for regulated industries. That will require constructive and open consultation with regulated sectors to identify the challenges facing those sectors and how best to address them. One issue that came up in oral evidence was the question of the lag between regulation making and industry adoption. David Cook of DLA Piper commented that, after laws come into effect, the process of businesses understanding where they need to get to “often requires a multi-year programme of reform.” ––[ Official Report, Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Public Bill Committee , 3 February 2026; c. 5, Q1.] The code of practice is not envisaged to be legally binding, in the sense that a failure to comply is not of itself evidence of a failure to meet obligations under the NIS regulations or the Bill. However, clause 38 states that it would be admissible as evidence in legal proceedings so, in that sense, the code is binding in all but name. In view of that, and the fact that codes can be revoked and reissued, can the Minister provide reassurance to regulated industries that a lead-in time will be built into any requirements to allow businesses to prepare to achieve full compliance?

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    Clause 53 would grant the Secretary of State powers to issue directions to regulators where this is necessary for national security reasons, and to allow a reasonable period for the regulator to comply with that direction. Clause 54 provides that directions may be amended or revoked by the Secretary of State. Under clause 55, directions to regulated entities or regulators must be laid before Parliament unless that “would be contrary to the interests of national security.” I repeat my earlier question about the ISC’s role regarding scrutiny. Clause 56 would permit the Secretary of State and regulatory authorities to share any information obtained under part 4 with each other and the NCSC. The provision also allows for the sharing of information with other UK or overseas public authorities with equivalent cyber-security or national security functions. Government amendments 23 and 24 seek to amend that clause to provide for directions and notices issued under this part to be sent by email to relevant persons who provided those contact details to regulatory authorities. Some reassurance on the extent of information sharing for businesses is delivered through provisions specifying that disclosures of information should be limited to that which is relevant and proportionate. However, those are high-level and subjective terms, open to interpretation by the authority sharing the information. Can the Minister provide any update on the development of protocols between authorities to ensure that information shared is limited to that which is necessary for effective oversight and enforcement in relation to national security risks?

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    I confess, Mr Stringer, that I suspect I am also guilty of speaking a bit fast in our previous debates. I will do my best to slow down and speak in a lower tone, as I know that can also help, particularly with certain types of hearing impairment. To continue the theme of agile regulation, clause 29 enables the Secretary of State to update the NIS regulations through secondary legislation. Clause 30 enables the Secretary of State to impose requirements on regulated entities, which may include directions to take specific actions to increase cyber-resilience, to report on certain matters and to appoint a UK representative if the entity is based outside the UK. Furthermore, clause 31 specifies that the Secretary of State may direct competent authorities to undertake certain activities, including mandating functions in connection with monitoring and securing compliance with relevant requirements, investigating suspected non-compliance and mitigating the effects of non-compliance on the part of regulated entities. Clauses 32 to 35 provide for the Secretary of State to issue ancillary directions to facilitate information-gathering, investigation and enforcement activities on the part of regulators. Taken together, the clauses give the Secretary of State a strong suite of powers to respond to emerging cyber-security risks. Again, I recognise the necessity of being able to respond quickly in fast-changing circumstances. However, the Government should clearly be reporting on the Secretary of State’s exercise of the powers at regular intervals to ensure transparency. We will discuss that in due course when we come to clause 40, on the report on network and information systems legislation.

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    Okay.

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    New clause 2 contains an obligation for the Secretary of State to establish and maintain by regulation a list of foreign powers presenting a significant cyber-security risk to the UK. The list must include states that have been confirmed by GCHQ as having perpetrated a cyber-attack, whether by a state department, agency or affiliate, on the UK in the preceding seven years. It must also include foreign powers that GCHQ has warned pose a risk to the security or resilience of the network or information systems of one or more operators of an essential service or critical suppliers. New clause 3 would compel the Secretary of State to review and report to Parliament on the risk to networks and information systems posed by foreign powers appearing on the register under new clause 2, with specific regard to activities undertaken from abroad and the risk posed by locations or premises controlled by those states in the United Kingdom. New clauses 13 and 15, in the name of the hon. Member for Henley and Thame, look as if they have been tabled in the same spirit of genuine concern about the risk of foreign hostile state interference and control in critical systems and supply chains. There is an established precedent in UK legislation for maintaining registers or lists of hostile state actors and other entities presenting a threat to our national security for use by Government. That includes the foreign influence registration scheme under the National Security Act 2023, which came into effect last year. Russia and Iran were placed on an enhanced tier of the scheme, which applies to foreign powers considered to pose a risk to the UK’s safety or interests. The Government said that that was in response to those countries being identified as presenting an elevated national security risk. China was conspicuous by its absence, despite the director of GCHQ having confirmed in 2024 that her organisation devotes more resource to China than to any other single mission.

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    Clauses 48 to 52 deal with notifications and financial penalties where a regulated entity is deemed not to be compliant with directions issued by the Secretary of State under part 4. In particular, clause 48 would grant enforcement authorities powers to issue a contravention notice if they believe a person has failed to comply with a requirement under part 4. The notice must set out details of remedial steps to address the failure, as well as the financial penalty that the enforcement authority intends to impose. Clause 49 would require penalties to be set at a level that is appropriate and proportionate, with the maximum penalty being £17 million or 10% of turnover. A maximum daily penalty of £100,000 applies to ongoing breaches. The maximum fines for failing to comply with an information notice or an inspection would be set at £10 million.

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    Okay.

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    Clause 45 gives the Secretary of State powers to require regulatory authorities to monitor and report on regulated entities’ compliance with directions given under clause 43 for reasons of national security. Clause 46 provides the Secretary of State with extensive information-gathering powers through the use of information notices to facilitate the giving of directions and monitoring of compliance with directions under clause 45(4). Clause 47 empowers the Secretary of State to conduct inspections to assess whether a regulated entity is complying with directions issued under clause 45(4). The Secretary of State may appoint a third party to conduct the inspection, and require the regulated entity to meet the costs associated with this. I reiterate the point that these powers are necessary; however, given the potential for significant cost and administrative burden for businesses, they should be subject to contemporaneous or near-contemporaneous oversight by parliamentary authorities, observing the necessary confidentiality protocols. I also make the point that these information-gathering powers apply extraterritorially and may lead to conflict with regulated entities’ data privacy obligations in other jurisdictions. What discussions has the Secretary of State conducted with industry and law enforcement counterparts in other countries about the approach to information sharing for this purpose, and the implications for companies operating services on a cross-border basis?

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    I have two questions for the Minister. Given the impact on devolved legislation, can he confirm that the consultation will extend to devolved authorities should it impact on them? My second question is more generally on the theme of devolved authorities. Can he confirm that, as part of the publicised “reset” negotiations with the European Union, bringing Northern Ireland into scope of NIS2 regulations is totally off the table?

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    I think the Minister is saying that there will be a parliamentary scrutiny mechanism under these powers. Is that what he is saying?

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    I do not want to repeat the discussion that we had a moment ago. I think it is complete lunacy to permit the building of a super-embassy—one of the biggest in the region—next to highly critical data transmission. I am also concerned by media reports that the Prime Minister’s recent visit to China was greenlighted only following the final approval of the embassy. I am deeply depressed that, following the visit, Jimmy Lai has been effectively sentenced for life. I respect the tone and constructive way in which the hon. Member for Harlow approaches this debate, but it is fair to say that the Government are sadly weak on standing up to hostile state actors such as the Chinese Communist party. As I said at the start, there is simply no point in granting the Secretary of State powers to issue directions on the basis of national security if the Government are not willing to be clear-eyed about the most critical cyber-security risks to the nation. I therefore submit that the new clauses are a vital addition to the Bill to focus the attentions of the Secretary of State to ensure that her functions under part 4 are carried out in the best interests of our national security. No responsible Government would or should vote against such provisions. Parliament should make it crystal clear that the Chinese Communist party is a threat to the United Kingdom. We must support new clauses 2 and 3. Ordered, That the debate be now adjourned. — (Taiwo Owatemi.)

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    Clause 40 requires the Secretary of State to publish a report every five years on the operation of the NIS regulations and parts 3 and 4 of the Bill. Reports should include a review of any exercise of powers under parts 3 and 4 by the Secretary of State. Given the wide-ranging powers granted to the Secretary of State under those parts, I have some sympathy for amendment 26, tabled by the hon. Member for Henley and Thame, which seeks to reduce reporting intervals from five years to three. The shadow Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch and Upminster (Julia Lopez), raised this issue on Second Reading. She suggested that annual or biannual reviews might allow for effective parliamentary scrutiny of the NIS regulations and of the Secretary of State’s exercise of powers to respond to emerging threats. In view of the concerns voiced by the hon. Members for Henley and Thame and for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, and by the shadow ministerial team, will the Minister explain why five-year intervals have been selected and whether the Government will look at this important issue again?

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    I really think we should be very critical about this. What we are doing now is parliamentary scrutiny. There will be directions in future, which we expect to be laid, and they will also be subject to parliamentary scrutiny. Even where they are redacted because of national security concerns, somebody, or some mechanism of Parliament, will be able to scrutinise them. Can the Minister confirm that?

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    For the sake of clarity on the legal status of the codes, I entirely agree with the Minister that it is important to get this right, and my understanding of codes of practice in a different area—statutory codes of practice relating to the Mental Health Act—is that case law says that deviation from the code of practice should be done only for cogent reasons. That is a pretty high bar to pass in terms of deviations. I should declare an interest as a former consultant psychiatrist and someone who operated subject to that particular code of practice. For absolute certainty, will the Minister write to the Committee and make the status very clear, along with reference to relevant case law in terms of other codes of practice? Does the clause override that jurisprudence or not? That would settle the question as the Bill goes through Parliament.

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    I really do not understand the Minister’s answer. If it has not been published on national security grounds, how will we know that it has been laid? The whole thing could be entirely secret. Surely it has to go to the ISC as an accountability mechanism.

  • 10 Feb 2026 · Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source
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    The Minister is being generous with his time during this important debate. I was just thinking through his earlier response to the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton about using the cost reclaims to employ cyber-security professionals. That goes to the heart of the concerns about the Bill and its approach to regulation. We have heard that the industry, including regulators, is struggling to recruit cyber-security professionals. What gives the Minister confidence that, just because some money will be sloshing around in the regulators, there will be the ability to recruit cyber-security professionals, who are going to be essential to the implementation of the Bill?

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