Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of allowing Chinese state affiliated companies to be part of the smart meter roll-out on national security.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answers given on 20th October 2022 to Questions UIN 60918, UIN 60919 and UIN 60920.

The smart metering system has been designed in consultation with industry experts and the National Cyber Security Centre (part of GCHQ), with a comprehensive security model at its heart. Smart meters only respond to communications that are sent securely by authorised organisations such as energy suppliers, rather than meter manufacturers.

Security risk assessment reviews are conducted on a regular basis and consider the range of certified devices used within smart metering, including the system resilience benefits that diversity of devices bring.