Question for Cabinet Office - Smart Devices: China
Stewart McDonald (SNP): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if his Department will make an assessment of the (a) prevalence of the use and (b) reliance on the supply of Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules in national security infrastructure. (Asked 18 July 2023)
Jeremy Quinn (Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office): The UK takes its national security extremely seriously and has taken robust action to secure its critical infrastructure and resilience.
The National Security and Investment Act allows the Government to intervene where foreign direct investment is targeted at innovative UK companies. Where such investment is within critical sectors, it is mandatory to notify Government and this is subject to thorough assessment by the national security community. The Procurement Bill will also provide powers for the Government to exclude and debar companies from public procurement where the Government assesses there to be an intolerable national security risk.
Additionally, the Government has taken specific action regarding devices on the Government estate. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster published a Written Ministerial Statement in November 2022 detailing instructions for departments to disconnect such surveillance equipment from core departmental networks, where it had been produced by companies subject to the National Intelligence Law of China. Government departments have been implementing these policies along with other protective security controls and will not hesitate to take further action if necessary.
The Cabinet Office keeps the security issues associated with internet facing technology/components under close review as part of its overall approach to security, and in line with GSG, NPSA and NCSC guidance. (Answered 26 July 2023)
Stewart McDonald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department is taking steps to monitor the potential threat posed by Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules on national security infrastructure. (Asked 18 July 2023)
Jeremy Quinn (Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office): This question is grouped with the question above – response identical. (Answered 26 July 2023)
Question for Treasury - Smart Devices: China
Stewart McDonald (SNP): To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will make an assessment of the (a) prevalence of the use and (b) reliance on the supply of Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules in the UK’s finance infrastructure. (Asked 18 July 2023)
Andrew Griffith: The UK takes its national security extremely seriously, including the security of its critical infrastructure and all sectors of the economy. We encourage all organisations to follow National Cyber Security Centre and National Protective Security Authority supply chain security guidance when selecting a technology supplier. This guidance sets out the considerations that organisations should be making during the procurement process.
For the finance sector, the Bank of England, the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority have set clear expectations for how regulated firms should manage the risk posed by third parties. (Answered 26 July 2023)
Stewart McDonald (SNP): To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department is taking steps to monitor the potential threat posed by Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules on finance infrastructure. (Asked 18 July 2023)
Andrew Griffith: This question is grouped with the question above – response identical. (Answered 26 July 2023)
Question for Department for Business and Trade - Smart Devices: China
Stewart McDonald (SNP): To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department is taking steps to monitor the potential threat posed by Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules on business infrastructure. (Asked 18 July 2023)
Nigel Huddleston (Minister for International Trade): The UK takes its national security extremely seriously and has taken robust action to secure its critical infrastructure and resilience.
The National Security and Investment Act allows the Government to intervene where foreign direct investment is targeted at innovative UK companies. Where such investment is within critical sectors, it is mandatory to notify Government and this is subject to thorough assessment by the national security community.
The Procurement Bill will also provide powers for the Government to exclude and debar companies from public procurement where the Government assesses there to be an intolerable national security risk.
Additionally, the Government has taken specific action on Chinese-made devices on the Government estate. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster published a Written Ministerial Statement in November 2022 detailing instructions for departments to disconnect such surveillance equipment from core departmental networks, where it had been produced by companies subject to the National Intelligence Law of China.
Government departments have been implementing these policies along with other protective security controls and will not hesitate to take further action if necessary. The Government keeps the security issues associated with internet facing technology components under close review as part of our overall approach to security, and in line with GSG, NPSA and NCSC guidance. (Answered 26 July 2023)
Stewart McDonald (SNP): To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will make an assessment of the (a) prevalence of the use and (b) reliance on the supply of Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules in business infrastructure. (Asked 18 July 2023)
Nigel Huddleston (Minister for International Trade): This question is grouped with the question above – response identical. (Answered 26 July 2023)
Question for Department of Health and Social Care - Smart Devices: China
Stewart McDonald (SNP): To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the (a) prevalence of the use and (b) reliance on the supply of Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules in the NHS. (Asked 18 July 2023)
Will Quince (Minister for Health and Secondary Care): The United Kingdom takes its national security extremely seriously and has taken robust action to secure its critical infrastructure and resilience. The National Security and Investment Act allows the Government to intervene where foreign direct investment is targeted at innovative UK companies. Where such investment is within critical sectors, it is mandatory to notify Government, and this is subject to thorough assessment by the national security community. The Procurement Bill will also provide powers for the Government to exclude and debar companies from public procurement where the Government assesses there to be an intolerable national security risk.
Additionally, the Government has taken specific action on Chinese-made devices on the Government estate. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster published a Written Ministerial Statement in November 2022 detailing instructions for Departments to disconnect such surveillance equipment from core Departmental networks, where it had been produced by companies subject to the National Intelligence Law of China. Government Departments have been implementing these policies, along with other protective security controls, and will not hesitate to take further action if necessary.
The Department keeps the security issues associated with internet facing technology and components under close review as part of its overall approach to security, and in line with Government Security Group, National Protective Security Authority and National Cyber Security Centre guidance. (Answered 26 July 2023)
Stewart McDonald (SNP): To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department is taking steps to monitor the potential threat posed by Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules to the NHS. (Asked 28 July)
Will Quince (Minister for Health and Secondary Care: This question is grouped with the question above – response identical (Answered 26 July)
Question for Department for Transport - Smart Devices: China
Stewart McDonald (SNP): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is taking steps to monitor the potential threat posed by Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules to (a) aviation, (b) cars, (c) roads, (d) the rail network and (e) other parts of the UK transport system. (Asked 18 July 2023)
Jesse Norman (Minister for Decarbonisation and Technology ): The Department takes transport security very seriously and regularly monitors for any potential security threats. Whilst the UK’s transport sector employs a limited amount of cellular internet of things module technology, reliance is low. The Department encourages the transport sector to follow Government Security Group, National Cyber Security Centre and National Protective Security Authority supply chain guidance when selecting a technology supplier. (Answered 25 July 2023)
Stewart McDonald (SNP): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will make an assessment of the (a) prevalence of the use and (b) reliance on the supply of Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules in (a) aviation, (b) cars, (c) roads, (d) the rail network and (e) other parts of the UK transport system. (Asked 18 July 2023)
Jesse Norman (Minster for Decarbonisation and Technology): This question is grouped with the question above – response identical. (Answered 25 July 2023)
Question for Department for Energy Security and Net Zero - Smart Devices: China
Stewart McDonald (SNP): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will make an assessment of the (a) prevalence of the use and (b) reliance on the supply of Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules in energy infrastructure. (Asked 18 July 2023)
Andrew Bowie (Minister for Nuclear and Networks): The UK takes its national security extremely seriously, including the security of its critical infrastructure. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero works with other government departments and agencies, as well as with industry partners, to ensure threats to energy infrastructure are understood and appropriate mitigations are established including for the supply chain and in line with NPSA and NCSC guidance. The Department is working with the National Cyber Security Centre to monitor risks to the energy sector from increasing digitalisation in the UK’s energy system, including security issues associated with internet-facing components. (Answered 25 July 2023)
Stewart McDonald (SNP): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department is taking steps to monitor the potential threat posed by Chinese-made cellular internet of things modules to energy infrastructure. (Asked 18 July 2023)
Andrew Bowie (Minister for Nuclear and Networks): This question is grouped with the question above – response identical. (Answered 25 July 2023)
