Written question asked by Lord Harris of Haringey (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord West of Spithead (Labour) on Thursday, 17 January 2008.

Terrorism

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 9 March 2004 (WA 156), whether the assessment that the threat of an electronic attack against the United Kingdom's critical national infrastructure that could disable a critical service is low has since been revised; and, if so, what is the current assessment of the threat posed by (a) a nation state; (b) a terrorist group; (c) an organised crime group; or (d) an individual.

Answer: The Government's current approach towards the protection of critical parts of the national infrastructure is to focus on the reduction of vulnerabilities that might be exploited by a variety of methods including electronic attack. By reducing vulnerability, protection is afforded against a variety of threat actors, such as foreign states, terrorist organisations or criminals. Advice on effective security measures to prevent or mitigate electronic attacks to the national infrastructure is provided by the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) and by the Communications Electronic Security Group (CESG), which is part of the Government Communications Headquarters. In her recent Written Statement on protective security (14 November 2007, Official Report, cols. 45WS-46WS), which included protection of the UK's critical national infrastructure (CNI), my right honourable friend the Home Secretary informed the House that there was a high standard of protection of the CNI from the threat of terrorism. The CPNI and CESG are working effectively with government departments and the private sector to provide a proportionate level of protective security response commensurate with the different types of threat and risks affecting the CNI.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 1041; 697 c285-6WA
Session: 2007-08
Related items: Scotland of Asthal, Baroness
Tuesday, 9 March 2004
Written questions
House of Lords; National Security
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
Written statements
House of Lords
Subjects: Cybersecurity
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk