Source · Select Committees · National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)
Recommendation 25
25
Accepted in Part
We commend the Government’s efforts to improve co-ordination, particularly the establishment of the Subsea Infrastructure...
Conclusion
We commend the Government’s efforts to improve co-ordination, particularly the establishment of the Subsea Infrastructure Response Group and Subsea Communications Cables Industry Group. We accept that changing governance structures for the sake of it is not helpful. Equally, however, there is evidence that improvements to oversight and co- ordination would benefit day-to-day work and crisis response. (Conclusion, Paragraph 162)
Government Response Summary
The government partially agreed, acknowledging the need for improved coordination but declining to expand the SIRG. Instead, it stated that it has established an Undersea Infrastructure Security (UIS) Oversight Board, chaired by the Cabinet Office, to provide a senior-level, cross-government function for strategic direction and coordination.
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.