Committee publication · Correspondence · 16 May 2025
Letter to Co-op relating to a request for their appearance at an evidence session, 16 May 2025
From: Business and Trade Sub-Committee on Economic Security, Arms and Export Controls
Inquiry: UK economic security
Summary
The Business and Trade Committee requests oral evidence from Co-op regarding a cyber-attack affecting the retailer. The committee seeks to understand lessons for UK economic resilience and systemic cyber threat preparedness, and to examine government support for affected firms. A response is requested by 19 May 2025.
Key findings
- Co-op cyber-attack is subject of significant public interest
- Committee aims to understand wider policy lessons for strengthening UK economic resilience to cyber threats
- Parliament seeks to hold government accountable for supporting firms affected by cyber incidents
- Co-op requested to provide oral evidence at a mutually convenient date
- Committee also awaiting full response to previous letter of 1 May with outstanding questions
Tone
ProceduralTopics
cybersecurityeconomic-resiliencebusiness-continuityparliamentary-accountability
Key actors
Shirine Khoury-Haq, Co-op, Business and Trade Committee, Sub-Committee on Economic Security, Arms and Export Controls, Parliament, UK Government
Notable line
“It vital that Parliament is able to learn lessons from this incident, to ensure we are able to hold Government to account for supporting firms like yours.”
Key Quotes
“There is significant public interest in the cyber-attack affecting your business, and the Committee is therefore concerned that we understand the wider lessons for public policy to strengthen the resilience of the UK economy and systemically important employers to cyber threats.”
“It vital that Parliament is able to learn lessons from this incident, to ensure we are able to hold Government to account for supporting firms like yours.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗