Viscount Waverley
Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary
Became Member: 29th June 1990
Left House: 23rd June 2025 (Retired)
7 APPG Memberships
Australia and New Zealand (ANZAC) and the Pacific Islands, Commonwealth, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Greece, Freight and Logistics, Intellectual Property, Poland91 Former APPG Officer Positions
Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Blockchain, British Overseas Territories, Burma, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Commonwealth, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyber Security, Democratic Republic of Congo, Estonia, Ethiopia and Djibouti, Fair Business Banking, Financial Markets and Services, Foreign Affairs, France, Future of UK Freight and Logistics, Germany, Hungary, India, India (Trade and Investment), India Trade and Investment, Indo-Pacific, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kashmir, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latin America, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Maldives, Mexico, Montenegro, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, North Korea, North Macedonia, Oman, Pacific Islands, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Iraq, River Thames, Road Freight and Logistics, Rohingya, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Social Media, South East Asian Nations, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan and South Sudan, Switzerland, Thailand, Trade and Export Promotion, Trade and Investment, Turkey, UK Fresh Produce Network, Union, United Arab Emirates, United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, ZimbabweDivision Voting information
All Debates
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Sparring Partners
(94 debate interactions)
Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
(47 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(125 debate contributions)
(56 debate contributions)
(44 debate contributions)
(36 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(1,788 words contributed)
(1,709 words contributed)
(1,641 words contributed)
(1,602 words contributed)
Lords initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Viscount Waverley, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
Viscount Waverley has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Viscount Waverley has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)4 Other Department Questions
In September 2021, in response to Chinese government sanctions being placed upon Members of both Houses of Parliament, Mr Speaker and the Lord Speaker determined that the Ambassador of China would no longer be permitted access to the Parliamentary Estate. The decision of the Speakers remains unchanged.
We continue to monitor the COVID situation, including recent developments on vaccines, and will adapt our plans to adopt the most appropriate preventative measures at the most appropriate time. In doing so we remain mindful of our commitment to an inclusive COP.
We are aware there are groups for whom vaccination is not medically advisable; and that global access to vaccines is not consistent – the UK is committed to ensuring a safe and inclusive COP that recognises the different approaches globally.
The health of participants and the local community is foremost in our minds.
There are over one million visitors to Parliament each year. Visitors access the estate for many reasons. These include: to meet with a Member or a member of staff; to attend a Member-sponsored meeting or meetings at official level; to give evidence to a Committee; to lobby; to attend debates in both Houses (in the Chambers and Committees); to attend functions and banqueting events; to take a tour (both paid-for and democratic free tours); or as part of an Education Service visit. Many visits do not need to be pre-booked. In order to promote open access to Parliament controls are kept proportionate to the security risk. Photo identification by visitors is not currently deemed proportionate and if introduced would need to be verified, significantly delaying the admission of visitors to Parliament and resulting in lengthy queues at peak times.
All non-passholders are subject to search and screening measures before entering the estate. The Parliamentary Security Department do not comment publicly on the details of security measures.
The Director of Security for Parliament is content to meet with any members who wish to discuss specific concerns.
Business in the House of Lords is arranged through consultation with the Usual Channels. For its part, the Government will ensure that sufficient time is offered to consider the final deal in Parliament, including in the House of Lords.
The government’s legal position on the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill and Northern Ireland Protocol was set out in a statement published on 10 September, and remains unchanged. That statement makes clear that clauses 42 and 43 of the Bill may be exercised in a way which is incompatible with the provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement, and that the ‘notwithstanding provision’ in clause 45 partially disapplies Article 4 of the Withdrawal Agreement, regardless of whether any regulations made under clause 42 or 43 of the Bill are in fact compatible with the Withdrawal Agreement. The statement of 10 September also makes clear that it is an established principle of international law that a State is obliged to discharge its treaty obligations in good faith, and that this is, and will remain, the key principle in informing the UK’s approach to international relations. However, in the difficult and highly exceptional circumstances in which we find ourselves it is important to remember the fundamental principle of Parliamentary sovereignty.
Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Following appointment to ministerial office, all ministers receive induction briefings from their departments to support them in their ministerial duties.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has undertaken extensive engagement with EU Member States to reduce any risk of disruption to trade as a result of the new requirements. This included Ministerial engagement in the joint UK / EU Domestic Advisory Group session at the start of January 2024, enabling EU trade associations to engage directly on their outstanding queries ahead of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) implementation.
We continue with official level engagement with trading partners across the EU, including official visits to Belgium (by myself), the Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Poland and Germany in 2023 and 2024. The Chief Veterinary Officer has also engaged with counterparts across the EU in order to resolve issues such as ensuring availability of translated Export Health Certificates.
Prior to the second BTOM milestone of 30 April 2024, officials worked with EU-based businesses to conduct robust operational testing. We have and will continue to work with the European Commission, individual EU Member States and trade bodies through established fora, webinars, business-to-government and commodity-specific sessions. We are always keen to seek feedback to address any concerns.
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
The Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) has been designed with traders and consumers at the forefront. Our global risk-based approach harnesses data and technology to help reduce administrative burden for businesses. Further, most fruit and vegetables are currently treated as low risk and will not require any additional paperwork or checks. A limited number of meat and dairy products have been categorised as medium-risk. For these, simplified and streamlined certification is available.
Through the BTOM, we are piloting world-first Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Trusted Trader schemes. These will allow businesses, including some SMEs, to utilise their own processes to provide us with the assurance normally achieved through border controls, reducing administrative burden, time and costs. Further pilots that allow some traders to be approved to carry out their own checks at point of destination are now being rolled out.
Central to our support for businesses is our commitment to deliver a Single Trade Window (STW) with a further milestone this autumn. When fully operational, the STW will provide one digital gateway for users, where they can provide all the data once that is needed to fulfil their border obligations.
We continue to explore new ways to harness technology and streamline trade. Through the Ecosystem of Trust pilots, which developed theoretical models for ‘frictionless’ trade, the government partnered with industry to test new approaches to the use of technology and data at the border. These new approaches are now being taken forward via what we are calling “Border Trade Demonstrators” - aimed at improving border processes through better information sharing and improved governance.
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
The Government published the final Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) on 29 August 2023. It outlines new policies and processes that importers, the border industry and wider stakeholders including EU exporters will need to go through in order to import goods. We are implementing the BTOM in stages throughout 2024 to help industry get accustomed to the changes.
We have worked extensively with small and medium enterprises to help us define and help them adapt to new controls and requirements. Since publishing the final BTOM, Defra’s ongoing engagement has included regularly contacting 30,000 importers with up-to-date information, delivering over 50 webinars to thousands of businesses, providing bespoke training and working with HMRC to issue communication to 150,000 businesses in the UK.
The risk-based model outlined in the BTOM supports businesses of all sizes by minimising costs and burdens for traders and consumers. For example, low-risk products of animal origin will not require an Export Health Certificate or routine border checks and medium risk goods will undergo reduced intervention at the border. We are also piloting new Trusted Trader schemes that will support groupage loads, which is how SMEs often transport their goods.
All businesses will benefit from using the Single Trade Window, saving time and cost for traders. When fully operational, it will make better use of data and remove duplication to make it easier to trade internationally. This can also limit the requirement to use intermediaries and helps to support small businesses through the user interface on the platform. As the Single Trade Window develops, more information will be provided as to how SMEs can be involved and utilise the service.
The Department for Business and Trade supports small and medium enterprises with national programmes such as the Growth Hub network and through schemes such as Help to Grow. The new Help to Grow Campaign includes a dedicated website, acting as a resourcing hub for business support and advice, as well as SME leadership training schemes, Help to Grow Management and Help to Grow: Management Essentials. UK businesses can access DBT’s wealth of export support via Great.gov.uk. This comprises a digital self-serve offer and our wider network of support including trade advisers, Export Champions, the Export Academy, our International Markets network and UK Export Finance.
Furthermore, since its launch in October 2021, to February 2024, the Export Support Service (ESS) Export Digital Enquiry Service has supported over 16,800 enquiries. The ESS International Markets (IM) service has been live in all nine HMTC regions since April 2022 and has received 23,500 market enquiries from 10,700 businesses (up to February 2024).
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
Decisions on flexible working requests are made locally by departments, based on their business needs and delivery requirements. As departments are individual employers they set out their employees’ terms and conditions, including any flexible working policies.
Ministers are clear that civil servants should be in the workplace where needed to drive delivery and they should adhere to their contractual obligations. Workplace attendance has an important role in effective service delivery to the public.
To deliver value for the taxpayer means ensuring we maximise the use of the estate and proactively manage workplace attendance. Therefore, in addition to the thousands of civil servants working in such places as prisons, courts and our UK borders, office-based workers will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of working time in the workplace.
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
The Government recognises that for the Single Trade Window to be successful it must meet users’ different needs and the importance of engagement with stakeholders from across the wider border industry, including trade bodies. Significant consultation, user research and engagement have already taken place and will continue as policy design and delivery progress.
We have engaged with trade representatives, industry and border experts, intermediaries and businesses of all sizes including SMEs, via a 2021 discussion paper detailing key STW policy and design choices, a 2022 public consultation on STW features and the draft Border Target Operating Model, published in April 2023. In addition to receiving numerous detailed written responses, we have conducted extensive follow-ups including the commissioning of independent qualitative research via interviews with small businesses and hosting multiple stakeholder events attended by key industry participants.
We will provide further detail on the Single Trade Window, including plans for future engagement with stakeholders, in the final version of the Border Target Operating Model, which we hope to publish soon. We will continue to use the feedback we receive from our ongoing industry engagement and detailed user design activity to ensure that the Single Trade Window complies with all prevailing regulations and balances the needs of all stakeholders.
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
In April 2023, the Government published through Written Ministerial Statement UIN HLWS695 https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-04-17/hlws695 the launch of the Border Target Operating Model, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Governments. This sets out plans to introduce security and biosecurity controls from the 31st October 2023 in a way which implements critical protections at the UK border, while ensuring that these new controls are as simple as possible for businesses to comply with. By harnessing data and technology and taking a proportionate, risk-based approach to these controls, we have developed a model that works best for the UK.
On Friday 28 April 2023 we published a detailed risk categorisation of animal products, plants and plant products of EU and EFTA origin. This provides clarity to importers on what controls will be applied to the different risk categories, including when health certificates will be required to import goods from 31st October 2023. Following the publication of this additional information we are working to update our early estimate of the impact and cost of the new model, driving down cost wherever possible.
The relevant business stakeholders told us before publication that they will need time to prepare for these changes, and our phased approach gives them this time. We are working to ensure that UK and international businesses and their supply chains are aware of and understand the new requirements and are ready for these changes.
The Government is using the current period of engagement to listen and gather views through a series of thematic in-person and virtual workshops with the UK’s major supermarkets, logistics and transport firms, and with Business Representative Organisations, to further explore the costs of implementing the new model, and to ensure importing is as smooth as possible where checks are needed.
We will publish a final version of the Border Target Operating Model, reflecting feedback from stakeholders, in the summer.
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
In April 2023, the Government published through Written Ministerial Statement UIN HLWS695 https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-04-17/hlws695 the launch of the Border Target Operating Model, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Governments. This sets out plans to introduce security and biosecurity controls from the 31st October 2023 in a way which implements critical protections at the UK border, while ensuring that these new controls are as simple as possible for businesses to comply with. By harnessing data and technology and taking a proportionate, risk-based approach to these controls, we have developed a model that works best for the UK.
On Friday 28 April 2023 we published a detailed risk categorisation of animal products, plants and plant products of EU and EFTA origin. This provides clarity to importers on what controls will be applied to the different risk categories, including when health certificates will be required to import goods from 31st October 2023. Following the publication of this additional information we are working to update our early estimate of the impact and cost of the new model, driving down cost wherever possible.
The relevant business stakeholders told us before publication that they will need time to prepare for these changes, and our phased approach gives them this time. We are working to ensure that UK and international businesses and their supply chains are aware of and understand the new requirements and are ready for these changes.
The Government is using the current period of engagement to listen and gather views through a series of thematic in-person and virtual workshops with the UK’s major supermarkets, logistics and transport firms, and with Business Representative Organisations, to further explore the costs of implementing the new model, and to ensure importing is as smooth as possible where checks are needed.
We will publish a final version of the Border Target Operating Model, reflecting feedback from stakeholders, in the summer.
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
In April 2023, the Government published through Written Ministerial Statement UIN HLWS695 https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-04-17/hlws695 the launch of the Border Target Operating Model, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Governments. This sets out plans to introduce security and biosecurity controls from the 31st October 2023 in a way which implements critical protections at the UK border, while ensuring that these new controls are as simple as possible for businesses to comply with. By harnessing data and technology and taking a proportionate, risk-based approach to these controls, we have developed a model that works best for the UK.
On Friday 28 April 2023 we published a detailed risk categorisation of animal products, plants and plant products of EU and EFTA origin. This provides clarity to importers on what controls will be applied to the different risk categories, including when health certificates will be required to import goods from 31st October 2023. Following the publication of this additional information we are working to update our early estimate of the impact and cost of the new model, driving down cost wherever possible.
The relevant business stakeholders told us before publication that they will need time to prepare for these changes, and our phased approach gives them this time. We are working to ensure that UK and international businesses and their supply chains are aware of and understand the new requirements and are ready for these changes.
The Government is using the current period of engagement to listen and gather views through a series of thematic in-person and virtual workshops with the UK’s major supermarkets, logistics and transport firms, and with Business Representative Organisations, to further explore the costs of implementing the new model, and to ensure importing is as smooth as possible where checks are needed.
We will publish a final version of the Border Target Operating Model, reflecting feedback from stakeholders, in the summer.
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
In April 2023, the Government published through Written Ministerial Statement UIN HLWS695 https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-04-17/hlws695 the launch of the Border Target Operating Model, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Governments. This sets out plans to introduce security and biosecurity controls from the 31st October 2023 in a way which implements critical protections at the UK border, while ensuring that these new controls are as simple as possible for businesses to comply with. By harnessing data and technology and taking a proportionate, risk-based approach to these controls, we have developed a model that works best for the UK.
On Friday 28 April 2023 we published a detailed risk categorisation of animal products, plants and plant products of EU and EFTA origin. This provides clarity to importers on what controls will be applied to the different risk categories, including when health certificates will be required to import goods from 31st October 2023. Following the publication of this additional information we are working to update our early estimate of the impact and cost of the new model, driving down cost wherever possible.
The relevant business stakeholders told us before publication that they will need time to prepare for these changes, and our phased approach gives them this time. We are working to ensure that UK and international businesses and their supply chains are aware of and understand the new requirements and are ready for these changes.
The Government is using the current period of engagement to listen and gather views through a series of thematic in-person and virtual workshops with the UK’s major supermarkets, logistics and transport firms, and with Business Representative Organisations, to further explore the costs of implementing the new model, and to ensure importing is as smooth as possible where checks are needed.
We will publish a final version of the Border Target Operating Model, reflecting feedback from stakeholders, in the summer.
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A holding response to the Noble Peer’s Parliamentary Question of 25th April is attached in the answer and the completed response will be deposited in the House of Lords Library.
The Rt Hon. the Viscount Waverley
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
11 May 2023
Dear Lord Waverley,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what percentage of UK exports derive from inwarde investment into the UK (HL7457). Statisticians at the Office for National Statistics are currently undertaking additional analysis to answer your question and will place a copy in the House of Lords Library as soon as it is complete.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
The Single Trade Window will reduce the cost of trade by streamlining interactions with the Government at the border. It will enable traders to meet their import, export and transit-related obligations by submitting information to the Government once and in one place. We will design the Single Trade Window, in accordance with best practice, in full consultation with users of the border.
We will share more information about the delivery schedule of Single Trade Window and its impact on customers at the UK border in due course.
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
The 2025 Border Strategy was published in December 2020 and set out the UK Government’s vision for our border to be the most effective in the world. It set out the technological and data innovations that will be required, as well as transformations in governance and reviews of controls and check regimes (1).
The government will make an announcement on the Target Operating Model in due course. The government is already progressing work outlined in the Strategy, including the Ecosystem of Trust. We will publish the results of our innovative trials of new technologies at the border, known as the Ecosystem of Trust pilots, in Spring 2023 (2) and (3).
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
Meetings between the Prime Minister and his international counterparts are a regular part of Government business. Details are published on the gov.uk website.
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
The Government recognises the important role that the voluntary and community sector play in supporting the statutory services in response to emergencies, such as flood events.
Local Resilience Forums have well established processes for engaging with the voluntary and community sector.
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
Her Majesty's Government is acutely aware of the cyber security risks associated with the use of third-party digital services and software. The contracting authority for the procurement of any such product or service is responsible for assessing and managing that risk.
The reported compromise is a complex, global cyber incident, and the Government is working with international partners to understand its scale and assess any UK impact. As the investigation into this incident is ongoing I cannot comment on any operational details.
The National Cyber Security Centre has published guidance on their website.
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
Her Majesty's Government is acutely aware of the cyber security risks associated with the use of third-party digital services and software. The contracting authority for the procurement of any such product or service is responsible for assessing and managing that risk.
The reported compromise is a complex, global cyber incident, and the Government is working with international partners to understand its scale and assess any UK impact. As the investigation into this incident is ongoing I cannot comment on any operational details.
The National Cyber Security Centre has published guidance on their website.
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
To help companies get ready, we have launched a major communications campaign in the UK and EU urging businesses to visit gov.uk/transition to take action now, get their personalised list of actions, and subscribe to alerts to find out when things change.
The Government will continue to review and update the guidance we have published to help ensure businesses including SMEs, which are of such importance to our economy, are as prepared as possible for the changes and opportunities the end of the year will bring.
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
To help companies get ready, we have launched a major communications campaign in the UK and EU urging businesses to visit gov.uk/transition to take action now, get their personalised list of actions and subscribe to find out when things change.
The Government will continue to review and update the guidance we have published to help ensure businesses are as prepared as possible for the changes and opportunities the end of the year will bring.
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
Whilst the COVID-19 response continues, there is no immediate intention to review local resilience structures under the Civil Contingencies Act (CCA) or its associated duties placed on Category 1 and 2 responders. However, given the scale and challenges emergency responders have faced in dealing with COVID-19, we will consider any strengthening of arrangements as part of the legal requirement placed upon Cabinet Office by Regulation 59 of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (Contingency Planning) Regulations 2005 to conduct an assessment of regulations at least every five years. The next review must be completed by March 2022.
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
Coronavirus is the biggest challenge the UK has faced in decades – and we are not alone. All over the world we are seeing the devastating impact of this disease.
As the Prime Minister said in his recent address to the nation:
“This is a struggle that humanity will win, and we in this country will win… I know that we can succeed because we have succeeded before. When the sickness took hold in this country in March, we pulled together in a spirit of national sacrifice and community. We followed the guidance to the letter. We stayed at home, protected the NHS, and saved thousands of lives… There are unquestionably difficult months to come. And the fight against covid is by no means over. I have no doubt, however, that there are great days ahead. But now is the time for us all to summon the discipline, and the resolve, and the spirit of togetherness that will carry us through.”
Details of UK Government support and guidance available to the public are published on https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
We have seen no evidence of successful interference in the EU Referendum. The Government has published its response to the Intelligence and Security Committee report.
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
We have seen no evidence of successful interference in the EU Referendum. The Government has published its response to the Intelligence and Security Committee report.
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
As the Government has set out previously, the report is the property of the independent committee. It is for the Intelligence and Security Committee to lay their reports before Parliament and the reconstituted Committee did so on 21 July.
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
Civil Servants serve the government of the day and can only exercise power for and on behalf of the Secretary of State.
The Civil Service Management Code sets out regulations and instructions related to civil servants’ terms and conditions of service, including the declaration and management of private interests. HR in each Department will provide advice about the appropriate procedures to follow.
Local authorities are responsible for the management of their own officials. Local government officers must act in conformity with the Nolan Principles.
Opposition Deputy Chief Whip (Lords)
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Dear Viscount Waverley,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what the percentage breakdown of public sector employees is by (1) gender, and (2) ethnicity for each region of the United Kingdom (HL164444).
Estimates of employees by sector of employment are available from the Annual Population Survey (APS), a household survey of people in the UK. In the APS, the distinction between public and private sector is based on respondents’ views about the organisation for which they work. This may differ from how we would classify them for the headline measure of public sector employment. The APS also collects information regarding respondents’ sex and ethnicity.
Table 1 contains estimates of the percentage of public sector employees broken down by sex within each region. Table 2 contains estimates of the percentage of public sector employees broken down by ethnicity within each region. Both breakdowns use APS data for April 2018 to March 2019, the latest period for which data are available.
As the data are quite extensive, copy of both tables have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
Yours sincerely,
John Pullinger
The National Cyber Security Strategy (NCSS) seeks to ensure that the UK is the safest place to live and work online. As such, the Strategy sets out action aimed at all sectors of society. Partnership with private sector organisations of all sizes is critical to HM Government’s ability to deliver on the ambition of the NCSS.
HM Government provides support through the NCSS to stimulate the sector of specialist cyber security companies, working to create a domestic pipeline of development and investment in products and services that will make systems and infrastructure more resilient. Together with private sector manufacturers, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has recently published the Code of Practice for Consumer Internet of Things (IoT) Security to ensure that this emerging technology is secure by design. The private sector also contributes to the Government’s ambition of creating a sustainable pipeline of home grown cyber security professionals, playing a partnership role in programmes such as Cyber First and wider skills based initiatives.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) works directly with the private sector on the cyber threat and how to counter it, and companies act on advice from the NCSC to help them prepare for - and to respond and recover from – cyber incidents.
The National Cyber Security Strategy 2016-2021 defines a cyber attack as the deliberate exploitation of computer systems, digitally dependent enterprises and networks to cause harm.
The Cabinet Office published the HMG Minimum Cyber Security Standard in 2017, providing Departments with clear guidance on how they should plan for, and respond to, cyber incidents in a consistent manner. The Cabinet Office requires an annual update from Departments on how they meet the expectations as set out in the standard including a defined response plan to cyber security incidents.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), National Crime Agency (NCA) and regulators together agree the immediate response to a cyber incident, seeking to reduce harm and aid recovery within victim organisations. In April 2018, the NCSC in partnership with UK law enforcement introduced a new cyber attack categorisation framework to drive consistency and support improvements in the UK’s response. The framework encompasses cyber incidents in all sectors of the economy and gives consistency and clarity to response mechanisms for incidents. In those cyber incidents affecting UK infrastructure or critical services, the COBR crisis response mechanism is activated to coordinate incident management actions and priorities.
The Government has submitted its response to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy’s report on Cyber Security Skills and the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure and we look forward to its publication.
The awarding authorities that are eligible to publish notices on Tenders Electronic Daily can be found at the following link: https://simap.ted.europa.eu/european-public-procurement
The future options for our procurement policies are being considered very carefully, but until that process is complete it would be premature to comment on the publication of UK tenders once we leave the European Union.
All Civil Service organisations must comply with the Civil Service Nationality Rules which govern the eligibility of individuals to be employed in the Civil Service on the grounds of nationality. The Civil Service does not collate or hold central information on the nationality of civil servants.
The new national security doctrine, the Fusion Doctrine, builds on the creation and early years of the National Security Council (NSC), embeds the lessons from the Chilcot report and supports a whole-of-government approach to national security.
All NSC and NSC(Officials) meetings now use the Fusion Doctrine framework as a guide for the discussions. It is the responsibility of designated Senior Responsible Officials (SRO) to implement the Government’s strategy and coordinate across the whole of government.
Protecting the UK from hybrid threats is a whole-of-government effort. A range of Government departments (including the Cabinet Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence), working with the relevant parts of the private sector prepare for, prevent and respond to hybrid threats. The Government’s overall approach is overseen by the NSC and through sub-committees such as the NSC for Threats, Hazards, Resilience and Contingencies.
Opposition Deputy Chief Whip (Lords)
For reasons of national security, It has been the policy of successive Government not to go into detail regarding the ongoing recruitment, training and retention profile of security and intelligence staff. However, progress against each of the commitments made in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 is closely monitored, and reported annually to Parliament. The Second Annual Report, included in the National Security and Capability Review, was published in March 2018 attached. The Second Annual Report set out that we remain on track to meet this commitment.
Opposition Whip (Lords)
The Fusion Doctrine acts as a framework for our National Security Strategy so that we can identify the most effective and efficient combination of methods to achieve the Government’s objectives. The doctrine will ensure that in defending our national security we make better use of all of our capabilities: from economic levers; through cutting-edge military resources; to our wider diplomatic and cultural influence on the world’s stage.
Our response to the Salisbury attack is an example of the Fusion Doctrine in practice. We are deploying the full range of our National Security capabilities to counter the threats of hostile activity wherever it may come from.
The 2018 National Security Capability Review (NSCR) makes clear the Government’s commitment to addressing a complex and evolving threat picture to safeguard national security. The UK Volunteer Reserve Forces trained strength continues to grow, totalling 32,240 (as of January 2018). Both reservists and regulars contribute manpower and specialisms to two innovative Brigades which were established in direct response to hybrid threats as identified in the SDSR 2015, these units provide specialist capabilities in strategic communications, cyber and intelligence.
The two Brigades are:
· 77 Brigade which is comprised of approximately 200 Regular and 270 Reserve Service Personnel;
· 1 Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Brigade comprised of approximately 2,800 Regulars and around 2,100 Reservists.
Opposition Whip (Lords)
The National Cyber Security Strategy clearly outlines how the Government is developing defences against the cyber threat we face. We are investing £1.9 billion through the National Cyber Security Programme and have opened a new National Cyber Security Centre that is activity working with international partners, industry and civil society to tackle this threat. The activities of the NCSP are aligned with robust physical and personnel security measures to guard against hybrid attacks.
We are working across government to ensure that effective defence against cyber and hybrid attacks remains a key priority for all departments up to and beyond March 2021.
Opposition Whip (Lords)
Full information on which companies are currently contracted to provide outsourced services to each Government department is not held centrally.
However, a list of those suppliers that departments may engage through the Crown Commercial Service’s range of frameworks can be found at:
http://ccs-agreements.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/suppliers
Since January 2011, details of central government contracts above the value of £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts published prior to 26 February 2015 can be viewed at:
https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive
Those published after 26 February 2015 can be viewed at:
The driving principle underpinning the delivery of public services is – and will remain – the best value for money for the public purse. As part of this, we are committed to opening up government procurement and to identifying opportunities for private and voluntary sector involvement in service delivery where these can offer benefits to the taxpayer.
Full information on which companies are currently contracted to provide outsourced services to each Government department is not held centrally.
However, a list of those suppliers that departments may engage through the Crown Commercial Service’s range of frameworks can be found at:
http://ccs-agreements.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/suppliers
Since January 2011, details of central government contracts above the value of £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts published prior to 26 February 2015 can be viewed at:
https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive
Those published after 26 February 2015 can be viewed at:
All central government departments are responsible for their own procurement.
The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) provides a range of commercial services to the public sector to enable departments to achieve best value for money from their procurement.
HM Government works with a number of professional bodies to discharge its procurement and commercial activities, principally the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) and the International Association for Contract and Commercial Management (IACCM).
A detailed breakdown of departments’ dealings with these organisations is not held centrally.
The franchise for any future referendum would be determined by Parliament in the primary legislation which provides for that referendum.