Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2019 to Question 214092 on Telecommunications: National Security, whether the Government's existing comprehensive range of powers to protect national security includes the exclusion of a company supplying UK telecoms critical national infrastructure with equipment on national security grounds.

The security of our Critical National Infrastructure is of paramount importance and Government considers any national risks to telecommunications infrastructure on a case by case basis.

The Government has a range of powers to protect national security, and will take action where appropriate to address any risk arising in the telecoms sector. It would not be appropriate to comment in detail on matters of national security.

DCMS is leading a cross-government review of the UK telecoms supply chain. This is considering the appropriate regulatory and policy levers, to ensure the security and resilience of UK telecoms networks and services as well as the quality, availability and long-term cost of telecoms equipment. The review will conclude in Spring 2019 and the terms of reference are available on gov.uk.