Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment she has made of the vulnerability of the UK to a terrorist cyber-attack is; and if she will make a statement; [191819]

(2) what assessment she has made of the likelihood of a terrorist cyber-attack on the UK; and if she will make a statement. [191820]

James Brokenshire, Minister for Security and Immigration: The Government's strategy for countering terrorism, including the use of the internet by terrorists to carry out cyber-attacks against the UK, is set out in ‘CONTEST’ which was published in July 2011. The likelihood of a terrorist attack on the UK, in all of its manifestations, is kept under close review. The threat from international terrorism, regardless of the methodology employed, is currently assessed as ‘Substantial’ meaning that an attack is a strong possibility.

The Cyber Security Strategy, published in November 2011, sets out how the UK will support economic prosperity and protect national security by building a digital environment which is more resilient to cyber-attack, irrespective of whether the threat is posed by terrorists, criminals or state actors. To deliver the strategy, we have put in place the National Cyber Security Programme which is backed up by £860 million of Government investment to 2016.

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