Written question asked by David Stewart (Labour) on Thursday, 15 January 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 21 January 2004. It was answered by Lord Blunkett (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 January 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his assessment of the current risk to British security posed by cyber-terrorism. - (Holding answer 19 January 2004).

Answer: Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his assessment of the current risk to British security posed by cyber-terrorism. [148761] Mr. Blunkett: [holding answer 19 January 2004]: The National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre (NISCC) is continually monitoring the threat of electronic attack on the UK's Critical National Infrastructure. NISCC's assessment is that the overall threat from electronic attack is increasing but remains less attractive than a conventional attack. While the threat of the sort of attack that could disable a critical service is considered to remain low, less serious but damaging attacks that might deface a website or deny service from a web-site are assessed to be more likely.

Secondary information