Speeches by Griffiths.

“T2. What steps is the Cabinet Office taking to ensure that all public bodies adopt robust cyber-security frameworks, and what is the timetable to ensure their compliance?”

“Yes. My constituency is quite similar to yours in that it is a coastal constituency. The impact of sewage is felt acutely in my constituency. Thank you.”

“Avoid floodplain, do you mean?”

“That was a perfect introduction to the question that I want to ask about cyber-security for SMEs. RUSI has highlighted its concern about the lack of availability of security tooling for SMEs, which have an outsized exposure to attack, both from direct impacts on their organisations and as a result of their exposure to …”

“What are we talking about, specifically?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Is there an acceptance that historically, because that service has not been there, engagement has been pretty thin on the ground, and that this is the first attempt to really take a step forward?”

“I would argue that that journey is never going to end. The NCSC has some fantastic capability on its website, but it knows that people are not accessing it. Small businesses are not accessing it and, with the best will in the world, many will not necessarily be exporting or even going on the growth website. Robust enga…”

“I want to go back to the point about small businesses. Most of those businesses do not know what they do not know, and they are too busy trying to stay on a plateau, let alone grow in the current environment. I want to hear a much more proactive strategy for getting through to all those businesses, whether that is thro…”

“Pat McFadden—a slight shift of tack—how does the Government prepare for possible combined attacks, such as a physical attack and a cyber-attack, against critical infrastructure or critical sectors of the economy?”

“Yes. My constituency is quite similar to yours in that it is a coastal constituency. The impact of sewage is felt acutely in my constituency. Thank you.”

“Welcome, Minister Hardy. As you will already know, flooding is one of the most immediate and growing climate risks facing the UK. What is the Government’s approach to managing this threat and ensuring the country is genuinely prepared for the longer term risks?”

“Yes, I absolutely agree with you on that. How are decisions on infrastructure, housing and land use aligned with future flood risks?”

“It was done a couple of years ago, wasn’t it?”

“Are you confident that the national risk register covers our economic security sufficiently?”

“Going back to the original question, has the Government already prepared for possible combined attacks? You have given me several tests, none of which cover, for example, an attack on the pipeline in the North sea—which we may or may not have already seen—or a large cyber-attack. I did not hear in your answer anything …”

“Avoid floodplain, do you mean?”

“I absolutely agree with everything you have just said. It is certainly an issue in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton with our own district council, but are you looking to legislate for that? What will change between what exists now and how you look to the future?”

“You talked about the role of district councils but, in truth, you have not said anything that specifically will change from what happens today. I know we have a fantastic planning team locally and I am sure you have too. What will change in the imperative going forward?”

“Yes, it is certainly an issue in my constituency. What structures are in place to ensure that flood adaptation remains a priority across the Government?”