Improving Cyber Resilience

Lord Holmes of Richmond Excerpts

Wednesday 21st May 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

The right reverend Prelate makes a timely and important intervention, given recent events. Our online and offline worlds are merging, and there is no clear differential any more. This is a different frontier in that crime. This is an evolving and increasingly sophisticated threat, and we need to make sure that we are ahead of it. Candidly, as the NAO report earlier this year said, government cybersecurity practices are not yet where they need to be—but we are investing. Because of the report, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has been clear that we will bring forward a new cybersecurity strategy this year, and the NCSC is making sure that all resources are available. I urge all noble Lords to look at its website and specifically at what tools are available through the Cyber Essentials system. Companies that sign up for Cyber Essentials controls are 80% less likely to make a claim on cyber insurance than those without certification.

[Lord Holmes of Richmond (Con)]

My Lords, I declare my technology interests as set out in the register. Can the Minister confirm whether the Government have any plans to update the Computer Misuse Act, mainly to protect our cybersecurity professionals and researchers, who do so much to keep us all safe? The Act is over 35 years old. Will the Government take the opportunity of the cyber security and resilience Bill to insert clauses to this effect?

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

My Lords, when parliamentary time allows, there will be a cyber security and resilience Bill, and I am sure that, at that opportunity, we will discuss this in detail. I look forward to doing so with the noble Lord.