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Select Committee · National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)

Undersea cables

Status: Open Opened: 23 Jan 2025 21 recommendations 7 conclusions 1 report

Undersea cables form the backbone of the world’s internet. The UK has around 60 cables which connect us to the outside world, carrying 99% of our data. Concern has been growing about the risk of these cables being sabotaged by foreign states. The consequences would be extensive. This inquiry will examine the UK’s ability to … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report - Subsea telecommunications cables: resilience a… HC 723 19 Sep 2025 28 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
6 Recommendation 1st Report - Subsea telecommunications … Deferred

The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) and National Cyber Security Centre should require all UK...

The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) and National Cyber Security Centre should require all UK landing stations to be target-hardened to sufficient levels to deter state-backed sabotage. They should require landing station operators to develop within 12 months an emergency ‘good enough’ repair plan to recover from co-ordinated attacks. The … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government requires more time to consider the recommendation, stating the MoD will work with other departments and industry to evaluate commercial cable repair capacity and determine if intervention is needed.
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Cabinet Office
18 Recommendation 1st Report - Subsea telecommunications … Deferred

The Government’s review of legislation must pay particular attention to strong deterrents, such as major...

The Government’s review of legislation must pay particular attention to strong deterrents, such as major fines and criminal liability, that can be applied to private actors suspected of working for or on behalf of foreign states. (Recommendation, Paragraph 114) Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and is closely examining the issue of deterrents, such as major fines and criminal liability for private actors, as part of a comprehensive review of legislation relating to subsea cable infrastructure.
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Cabinet Office
27 Recommendation 1st Report - Subsea telecommunications … Deferred

We support the Crown Estate’s ambitions to improve long-term spatial planning via the Marine Delivery...

We support the Crown Estate’s ambitions to improve long-term spatial planning via the Marine Delivery Route Map. We urge those involved to ensure that plans prioritise a diversity of cable routes to avoid creating areas of concentrated targets. (Conclusion, Paragraph 168) Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with exploring cable protection zones and is considering existing powers as part of a comprehensive legislative review. They will factor identified areas of cable concentration into their assessment and are engaging with international partners on maritime infrastructure protection.
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Cabinet Office
28 Recommendation 1st Report - Subsea telecommunications … Deferred

The Government should further explore cable protection zones for critical areas of cable concentration, policed...

The Government should further explore cable protection zones for critical areas of cable concentration, policed by early warning indicators and heightened monitoring and response capabilities. This would require close co-operation with European partners, given the need to manage other maritime activities proportionately. (Recommendation, Paragraph 169) 67 Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees to further explore cable protection zones, noting potential utility but also jurisdiction limitations and challenges in congested marine environments. They are considering existing powers as part of a legislative review and are engaging with international partners while factoring in existing work on …
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Cabinet Office

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
30 Jun 2025 Kevin Adams · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Luke Pollard MP · Ministry of Defence, Paul Wyatt · Ministry of Defence, Sir Chris Bryant MP · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology View ↗
9 Jun 2025 Alasdair Wilkie · Atlantic Cable Maintenance & Repair Agreement (ACMA), Alex Towers · BT Group, Chief Constable Gavin Stephens · National Police Chiefs' Council, Dr Fenella Wrigley MBE · London Ambulance Service, John Wrottesley · European Subsea Cables Association, Laura Catterick · UK Finance, Mick McGovern · Alcatel Submarine Networks View ↗
19 May 2025 Captain Niels Markussen · NATO, Commodore (Rtd) John Aitken OBE · Thales, Dr Marie Jacobsson · Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Professor Aurel Sari · University of Exeter View ↗
12 May 2025 Dr Sidharth Kaushal · Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Elisabeth Braw · Atlantic Council, Matthew Bowden · Red Penguin Marine, Professor Kevin Rowlands · Kings College London View ↗

Who gave evidence

19 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Alasdair Wilkie · Chairman Atlantic Cable Maintenance & Repair Agreement (ACMA) 1
Alex Towers · Director of Policy and Public Affairs BT Group 1
Captain Niels Markussen · Director, NATO Maritime Centre for Security of Cr… NATO 1
Chief Constable Gavin Stephens · Chair National Police Chiefs' Council 1
Commodore (Rtd) John Aitken OBE · Underwater System Services General Manager Thales 1
Dr Fenella Wrigley MBE · Chief Medical Officer and Deputy CEO London Ambulance Service 1
Dr Marie Jacobsson · Former Principal Legal Adviser on International L… Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs 1
Dr Sidharth Kaushal · Senior Research Fellow Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) 1
Elisabeth Braw · Senior Fellow at the Scowcroft Center Atlantic Council 1
John Wrottesley · Executive Director European Subsea Cables Association 1
Kevin Adams · Interim Director Digital Infrastructure Department for Science, Innovation and Technology 1
Laura Catterick · Director, Resilience & Cyber UK Finance 1
Luke Pollard MP · Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Ministry of Defence 1
Matthew Bowden · Director & General Manager Red Penguin Marine 1
Mick McGovern · General Manager Marine Operations Alcatel Submarine Networks 1
Paul Wyatt · Director General, Policy Ministry of Defence 1
Professor Aurel Sari · Professor of Public International Law University of Exeter 1
Professor Kevin Rowlands · Visiting Professor Kings College London 1
Sir Chris Bryant MP · Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms Department for Science, Innovation and Technology 1

Correspondence

2 letters
DateDirectionTitle
8 Sep 2025 — Correspondence from Sir Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State, Department for Scie…
14 Jul 2025 — Correspondence from Sir Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State, Department for Scie…