Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2019 to Question 255389 on 5G, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of instructing the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre to (a) evaluate and (b) inspect Huawei 5G equipment.

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, as the national technical authority for information assurance and the lead Government operational agency on cyber security, leads for the Government in dealing with HCSEC and with Huawei more generally on technical security matters

The Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC) is a private entity. As detailed in the HCSEC Oversight Board report, their plan of evaluation is driven by the commercial rollout of services by the UK operators that use Huawei equipment.

As new equipment is rolled out, Government can work with them to refocus their efforts but we cannot instruct them. When operators do begin deploying equipment then it can be tested. HCSEC has not begun assessing any 5G equipment.

We have undertaken a thorough, evidence-based review of the 5G supply chain to ensure the secure and resilient roll-out of 5G. It will report in due course, and to Parliament first.