Tag: Speeches

  • Steve Barclay – 2021 Statement on National Cyber Strategy 2022

    Steve Barclay – 2021 Statement on National Cyber Strategy 2022

    The statement made by Steve Barclay, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, in the House of Commons on 15 December 2021.

    I am pleased to announce the publication of the new National Cyber Strategy.

    This strategy builds on the significant progress made through the National Cyber Security Strategy 2016-2021 and delivers on a commitment made in the Government’s Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy which was published earlier this year.

    Exponential advances in technology combined with decreasing costs have made the world more connected than ever before. The pandemic has accelerated this trend, but we are likely still in the early stages of a long-term structural shift. The global expansion of cyberspace is changing the way we live, work and communicate, and transforming the critical systems we rely on in areas such as finance, energy, food distribution, healthcare and transport. In short, cyberspace is now integral to our future security and prosperity. This offers extraordinary opportunities for technologically advanced countries like the UK to pursue their national goals in new ways.

    As such, this strategy reflects our ambition to cement the UK’s position as a leading cyber power. While cyber security remains at the heart of this strategy, it now draws together the full range of the UK’s capabilities inside and outside Government, with a particular emphasis on taking the lead in technologies relevant to cyber. It calls for a truly joined up, national strategic approach that is shaped by and helps guide decision-making in organisations across the country, and provides the basis for stronger collaboration with our partners in the UK and around the world.

    Our vision is that the UK in 2030 will continue to be a leading responsible and democratic cyber power, able to protect and promote our interests in and through cyberspace in support of national goals:

    a more secure and resilient nation, better prepared for evolving threats and risks and using our cyber capabilities to protect citizens against crime, fraud and state threats;

    an innovative, prosperous digital economy, with opportunity more evenly spread across the country and our diverse population;

    a science and tech superpower, securely harnessing transformative technologies in support of a greener, healthier society; and,

    a more influential and valued partner on the global stage, shaping the future frontiers of an open and stable international order while maintaining our freedom of action in cyberspace.

    The strategy is built around five core pillars which focus on: investing in our people and skills; increasing cyber resilience; taking the lead in the technologies vital to cyber power; advancing UK global leadership in cyber; and detecting, disrupting and deterring our adversaries.

    As announced in the spending review, the Government will be investing £2.6 billion in cyber and legacy IT over the next three years to support the strategy. This is in addition to significant investment in the National Cyber Force announced in the spending review 2020.

    We will invest more than ever before in a rapid and radical overhaul of Government cyber security, setting clear standards for Departments and addressing legacy IT infrastructure.

    Government’s critical functions will be significantly hardened to cyber-attack by 2025 and we will ensure that all Government organisations—across the whole public sector—are resilient to known vulnerabilities and attack methods by 2030.

    A copy of the National Cyber Strategy has been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

  • Lord Frost – 2021 Statement on Border Controls

    Lord Frost – 2021 Statement on Border Controls

    The statement made by Lord Frost in the House of Lords on 15 December 2021.

    On 14 September, the Government announced a revised timetable for the final stages of the introduction of controls on incoming goods. These controls relate primarily to customs, sanitary and phytosanitary —SPS—controls, and safety and security declarations. The first phase of these new controls is implemented on 1 January 2022.

    Implementing these arrangements for goods moving from the island of Ireland, whether from Ireland or from Northern Ireland, is particularly complex. This is because there are specific treaty and legislative commitments to “unfettered access” for goods from Northern Ireland, because there are currently “standstill” arrangements in place for operating the Northern Ireland protocol, and because negotiations on the protocol itself are still under way and will not be definitively completed by 1 January.

    Given this wider uncertainty and complexity, and the undesirability of bringing in new changes while the protocol arrangements themselves remain unsettled and while diversion of trade is already occurring, the Government have decided that the right thing is to extend, on a temporary basis, the current arrangements for moving goods from the island of Ireland to Great Britain for as long as discussions on the protocol are ongoing.

    This means that goods moving from the island of Ireland directly to Great Britain will continue to do so on the basis of the arrangements that apply currently, until further notice; and will not, for now, be affected by the changes being introduced on 1 January for all other inbound goods.

    The Government believe that this pragmatic act of good will can help to maintain space for continued negotiations on the protocol. It also ensures that traders in both Ireland and Northern Ireland are not faced with further uncertainty while the protocol arrangements themselves are still under discussion.

    This will be given effect through legislation by 1 January 2022 and the Government will continue to work with the devolved Administrations and interested stakeholders.

    These arrangements are temporary and we will continue to keep them under review as negotiations on the protocol continue. We will ensure traders have sufficient time to adapt to any future changes.

    The border operating model will be updated to reflect this and a copy will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

  • Sajid Javid – 2021 Comments on Faith Leaders Helping with Covid

    Sajid Javid – 2021 Comments on Faith Leaders Helping with Covid

    The comments made by Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 17 December 2021.

    Faith and local community leaders have played a vital role supporting the COVID-19 vaccine programme from the very beginning. Thank you to everyone who is uniting behind this national mission, spreading the word about the life-saving benefits of the vaccines and encouraging people to roll up their sleeves and get boosted now.

    We’re working with the NHS to provide advice and information at every opportunity on how to get a vaccine and the protection it provides. Today’s discussion with faith leaders is another opportunity to listen to views from across the country and join forces to get ahead in the race against the Omicron variant.

    It is never too late to get your vaccine, whether it’s your first, second or third. Please come forward and get protected for yourself, your family and your community.

  • John Healey – 2021 Comments on Female Recruits into Military

    John Healey – 2021 Comments on Female Recruits into Military

    The comments made by John Healey, the Shadow Defence Minister, on 16 December 2021.

    The Government has consistently let down women in our frontline forces, and Ministers keep making pledges which sounds good but fail to act.

    Women often have the impression that it is harder for them to succeed in the military, and such unclear targets will only reinforce this. We cannot allow more women to be put off a career in the Armed Forces.

    Ministers must stop seeking quick headlines and have a plan to drive up female recruitment, as well as ensuring women are properly supported throughout their service.

  • Louise Haigh – 2021 Comments on Tightening of Travel Restrictions

    Louise Haigh – 2021 Comments on Tightening of Travel Restrictions

    The comments made by Louise Haigh, the Shadow Transport Secretary, on 16 December 2021.

    This decision will cause huge uncertainty for passengers, businesses and the travel sector alike.

    The Chancellor should come out of hiding, and come forward with his plan to ensure our great British businesses and their workers have the clarity and support they need to weather this storm.

    And more people will now be forced onto the rip-off testing market. Now more than ever, Ministers should take the action regulators demanded, clean-up this racket and help families with the huge cost of travel.

  • Angela Rayner – 2021 Comments on Sick Pay

    Angela Rayner – 2021 Comments on Sick Pay

    The comments made by Angela Rayner, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, on 16 December 2021.

    Labour has said throughout the pandemic that we need to support people who want to do the right thing.

    Inadequate sick pay is wrong, but it is also a public health risk.

    The Conservatives failure to sort this has put people’s lives at risk.

    The Chancellor needs to leave Hollywood and come back to the reality facing UK business and families.

  • Mike Amesbury – 2021 Comments on the Local Government Finance Settlement

    Mike Amesbury – 2021 Comments on the Local Government Finance Settlement

    The comments made by Mike Amesbury, the Shadow Local Government Minister, on 16 December 2021.

    In the decade since 2010, central government funding for local services has been cut by over £16bn, hitting the poorest councils and populations hardest. Now the Conservatives are turning to taxpayers to paper over the cracks.

    From the energy price cap going up, soaring food costs and fuel prices hitting another record high – the list of price rises under this government goes on and on. Now the Tories in Westminster are hitting people with higher tax twice for social care, with an increase in National Insurance and a council tax rise.

    Instead of taking meaningful action to tackle the cost of living crisis, the Government has trapped us in a high tax, low growth cycle. The message today is clear: you pay more but get less under the Conservatives.

  • Nick Thomas-Symonds – 2021 Comments on UK-Australia Trade Deal

    Nick Thomas-Symonds – 2021 Comments on UK-Australia Trade Deal

    The comments made by Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Shadow Home Secretary, on 16 December 2021.

    Labour supports a free trade deal with Australia that promotes UK interests, increases exports and creates jobs across the country. This deal is a crucial one for the Government’s trade negotiating strategy going forward as it sets precedents for what other countries are likely to demand in future agreements.

    We will scrutinise the details of this agreement very carefully and will hold the Government to promises made to farming communities, its pledges on environmental protections, and on food and drink standards.

    But notable from the outset is that the Government ‘list of benefits’ contains no mention of climate targets or the impact of the removal of import tariffs on UK agriculture.

    Labour will hold the Government to account on the benefits it has promised to deliver from this deal.

  • Jonathan Reynolds – 2021 Comments on Help for British Businesses

    Jonathan Reynolds – 2021 Comments on Help for British Businesses

    The comments made by Jonathan Reynolds, the Shadow Business Secretary, on 17 December 2021.

    Every day the Chancellor is missing in action is an insult to the British businesses and workers who have struggled to get to this point.

    They are now facing closure by stealth from a Government without the authority to take the public health measures required and back it up with economic support.

    Firms are clear in their message to Government, they need help now not just warm words. Labour backs British business and workers with our plans to fix sick pay, ease the burden of debt repayments and cut business rates for small businesses.

  • Julian Smith – 2021 Comments on the Personal Conduct of John Redwood

    Julian Smith – 2021 Comments on the Personal Conduct of John Redwood

    The comments made by Julian Smith, the Conservative MP for Skipton and Ripon, on Twitter on 17 December 2021.

    Just heard you on @BBCr4today – wasn’t the BBC just deciding how to run its own show? ‘usual tricks’ is an unnecessary slur & just corrodes trust in another U.K. institution on the basis of no fact. You got on their show. What is the actual issue?

    [in response to John Redwood – BBC up to usual tricks. Invited me on for a live on Today at 7.10. I agreed. After hearing what I might say they cancelled and are talking about a pre record later! No surprise there.]