There is not yet a central estimate of the total cost of migrating government systems to post-quantum cryptography. Costs will vary according to departments’ technology estates and supplier. In line with the National Cyber Security Centre’s guidance, departments will conduct a discovery to identify their cryptographic assets by 2028. Departments will be expected to incorporate costs of migration using the established spending processes.

The Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill strengthens the UK’s existing cyber resilience framework for essential services and equips the Secretary of State with powers to update that framework as needed in the future. These powers will enable the Government to set clear expectations on how regulated entities should manage the risks which new technologies pose to their systems, including (but not limited to) the risks posed by quantum computing.

In addition, the Bill makes provision for a Statement of Strategic Priorities that will set overarching objectives for the regulators. We intend, subject to public consultation, for these objectives to be framed to ensure that regulators fully engaging with the latest technological development and reflecting this in their guidance to regulated entities

DCMS engages closely with the NCSC and regulators on the topic of Post-Quantum Cryptography. DCMS is working to produce a series of guidance documents to support organisations in managing their transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography in line with guidance and deadlines set by the NCSC. The first of these guidance documents is due to be published later this year.

The responsibility for Government cyber security was moved to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in July 2026. Within DCMS and under Baroness Lloyd of Efra, Minister for Cyber, Space and Regulatory Reform the Government Cyber Unit is developing a suite of guidance to support departments in planning migration to post-quantum cryptography. The Government Cyber Unit will be monitoring departmental progress.

The Ministry of Defence is assessing its cryptographic dependencies as part of its continued preparations for transition to post-quantum cryptography.

This assessment remains ongoing in line with wider Government advice and guidance. Necessary replacements will be managed through Defence's post-quantum migration planning and appropriate equipment refresh cycles.

The Cabinet Office has adopted the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) guidance on timelines for migration to post-quantum cryptography as the standard for its departments and arm's-length bodies

Planning for the migration to post-quantum cryptography is expected to be completed by 2027, highest-priority systems migrated by 2031, and all remaining systems transitioned by 2035. Departments will be advised to consider this in spending review planning.

The Ministry of Defence is assessing its cryptographic dependencies as part of its preparations for transition to post-quantum cryptography. This work will determine where migration can be achieved through software or firmware updates and where hardware replacement will be necessary.

This assessment remains ongoing and it is therefore not currently possible to provide a definitive proportion or replacement timetable. Necessary replacements will be managed through Defence's post-quantum migration planning and appropriate equipment refresh cycles.

ProQure is the government's flagship programme to identify, grow and deploy world leading quantum computing capabilities to drive economic growth and support adoption of this transformative technology to benefit UK citizens.

Innovate UK have conducted the application process for phase 1 of the ProQure programme following the Contracts for Innovation framework. Innovate UK are currently finalising the awards for phase 1 and full details on competition outcomes will be published in the coming weeks.

The UK Government does not currently operate a centrally funded programme to migrate all government systems to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). Responsibility for planning, funding and implementing PQC migration plans rests with individual departments, as they manage their own technology estates, cyber risks and funding (including for 2026-27).

Work on PQC migration is delivered alongside broader improvements to Government cyber resilience under the Government Cyber Action Plan, which illustrates departmental responsibilities. The Government Cyber Unit, which moved to the new Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in July 2026, is developing a suite of guidance to support departments with their migration planning. The guidance follows timelines set out by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to complete planning by 2027, migrate high-priority systems by 2031 and all remaining systems by 2035.

The Government is backing UK manufacturing capacity across these frontier technologies. Our £1.1 billion AI Hardware Plan will back British chip firms, support the scaling of hardware technologies in the UK, boost computing power and build the skills needed for long-term growth. We are backing advanced manufacturing with up to £4.3 billion over five years, including £38 million of grants to set up Robotics Adoption Hubs. For quantum technologies, we have committed up to £2 billion, including £140 million in infrastructure such as open-access pilot lines and cryogenics research and development.

We want to ensure the most promising quantum companies are motivated to start, grow and scale here in the UK. We have committed over £1bn to deliver an integrated support offer for scale ups that brings together R&D, skills and procurement to anchor manufacturing and R&D activity right here in the UK. We are also joining up with Public Finance institutions to promote UK quantum companies, with the BBB investing £40m in Quantum Motion and £100m in Oxford Quantum Circuits in Series C rounds earlier this year.

ProQure is our flagship programme to identify, grow and deploy world leading quantum computing capabilities to drive economic growth and social impact in the UK. Following the Contracts for Innovation framework, Innovate UK have designed and conducted the application process for phase 1 of the ProQure programme. The competition criteria were outlined in the competition brief, inviting applicants to submit proposals to deploy operational testbeds for quantum computers. The assessment process followed a standard IUK process, ensuring applications were assessed consistently, objectively and transparently.

The Ministry of Defence recognises the significant potential of quantum technologies to enhance defence capability, including in areas such as sensing, navigation, communications and computing. The Department is working closely with the wider Government, industry and academia to support the development and adoption of quantum technologies relevant to national security and defence.

As an emerging technology and because of the large number of potential applications of quantum technology, no single figure for quantum investment is held by the Department.

The UK is making substantial investments in sovereign quantum capabilities through the National Quantum Strategy, the National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP), the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), and associated industry-academia partnerships. As a founding partner of the NQTP, Dstl has played a pivotal role in shaping the programme's direction and priorities, contributing to its governance and ongoing evolution.

Dstl maintains a technology watch across the wider quantum ecosystem, however graphene photonics is not currently an area of direct Defence investment.

The National Quantum Strategy commits £2.5 billion over ten years to support the UK's quantum sector, while the NQCC is working to establish sovereign UK capability in quantum computing through investment in facilities, skills, technology platforms and supply chains.

In March 2026, the Government launched the next phase of the national quantum programme, announcing up to £2bn to accelerate quantum technology development and adoption.

Programme delivery depends on partners including the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Innovate UK, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) and National Physical Laboratory (NPL), and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). They provide the expertise, infrastructure and capability needed to realise the UK’s quantum ambitions and deliver economic and societal benefits.

The specific increase in Defence compute capacity from investment in quantum technology is not yet certain, as quantum computing is still maturing and its Defence applications are being explored. The MOD is working with Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology (DBIST) and the quantum computing sector to understand how future quantum computing capability could support Defence requirements and will make investment decisions accordingly.

The Ministry of Defence is working closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), as the National Technical Authority, to address encryption relating to quantum computing. This includes identifying digital dependencies, migrating priority systems, and transitioning to post-quantum technology, in line with NCSC guidance.