Number 10 Press Briefing - Afternoon From 14 February 2011
From the Prime Minister's spokesperson on: cyber security, Egypt and the AV Bill
Cyber Security
Asked if there were measures coming up regarding cyber security, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) said that there would be a working group to go and look at detailed proposals, drawing on expertise from the private sector as well, as it was clearly an issue that also affected private sector companies.
Asked for a list of companies, the PMS said the kind of companies represented were British Airways, Centrica, National Grid and BT.
Asked what prompted the meeting, the PMS said it was an issue that was prioritised in the Strategic Defence and Security Review which set out the increasing threat to the UK from cyber security.
The Foreign Secretary had been talking about it at the Munich Security Conference last week and the Prime Minister had talked to GCHQ staff about it last week too. So it was part of that work programme that followed on from the Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Asked if there were any plans to put aside money for this area, the PMS said he couldn’t remember the precise figures from the Strategic Defence and Security Review but the budget was set out at that stage.
Asked if the Prime Minister was speaking to companies to gain their experiences or to warn them, the PMS said both. It was something that companies had to think about themselves - how they protected their systems. It was also an issue that the Government thought could be better tackled if we worked together.
Egypt
Asked if the Prime Minister had any more views on Egypt, the PMS said he had set out his position at the end of last week including the need for free democratic elections and civilian rule.
AV Bill
Asked if it was the Government’s intention to try and overturn all amendments made in the Lords, the PMS said he believed that was the case.
Asked if the Government thought that the Lords needed reforming, the PMS said it was the Government’s intention to reform the House of Lords and it would be coming forward with proposals to that end.