Source · Select Committees · National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)
Recommendation 15
15
Accepted in Part
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology should ensure all lead departments have detailed sector-by-sector...
Recommendation
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology should ensure all lead departments have detailed sector-by-sector technical impact studies on areas most likely to be affected and response plans—notably finance, maritime and air traffic, communications, defence and supply chains including food and fuel. We suggest such assessments are handled securely given their value to hostile actors. We note that some cascading impacts may not be immediately obvious—it may therefore be helpful to begin with an underpinning assessment of internet failure modes and how this would affect critical systems. The Cabinet Office resilience teams could usefully help to co-ordinate and audit these assessments. (Recommendation, Paragraph 99) 64
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees on the importance of a centralised coordination function, establishing an Undersea Infrastructure Security Oversight Board chaired by the Cabinet Office for strategic direction, but does not adopt the specific suggestion to expand SIRG or set up a new inter-ministerial group.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The Government partially agrees with this recommendation. We agree with the Committee on the importance of a centralised, cross-government function to support coordination on subsea cable security policy. However, we do not think that expanding the scope of HMG’s Subsea Infrastructure Response Group (SIRG) beyond its current operational remit would be the most effective approach, as it is designed to be an agile forum to facilitate intelligence sharing and coordinate the Government’s response to crisis scenarios. As part of wider efforts to strengthen governance in this area, the Government has established an Undersea Infrastructure Security (UIS) Oversight Board, chaired by the Cabinet Office and consisting of members from relevant Government departments and agencies. This senior-level body will provide a joined-up function that the Committee envisages and serve to set the strategic direction across government. We believe DSIT should continue to be responsible for industry engagement on subsea telecoms cables, as the Lead Government Department (LGD) for cables. DSIT works closely with MoD and other key departments to facilitate government engagement with the sector, and both departments engage with industry through the DSIT-chaired Subsea Communications Cable Industry Group (SCCIG). The Government does not plan to set up an additional dedicated inter-ministerial group as effective Ministerial oversight is already provided by the National Security Council.