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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

1 item
19 Recommendation 1st Report - Subsea telecommunications … Rejected

The Government should explore new options for taking a more robust approach to interdicting suspicious...

The Government should explore new options for taking a more robust approach to interdicting suspicious vessels—for example applying piracy provisions to cables that land in the UK or seeking a limited extension of domestic criminal law jurisdiction. It should commission a legal opinion on options and risks, and publish this … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees but explicitly rejects applying piracy provisions to cables or commissioning an external legal opinion on this issue, citing the importance of consistency with UNCLOS, international partner views, and the risk of reciprocal action. It states options to counter suspicious vessels are …
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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…