Sir Julian Lewis: I do not think I heard the Minister [Ian Murray] mention anything about the risk of cyber-attacks on local government. Does my hon. Friend agree that that is another potentially juicy target for people who wish to cause major mischief?

[Julia Lopez (Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology): As my right hon. Friend is aware, local government is outside of the scope of the Bill, but it is a very juicy target – much of the public sector remains a very juicy target. In acknowledgment of that, the Government whipped out a strategy very quickly this morning that is meant to give us assurances about the public sector’s cyber-resilience. I am not sure that that strategy will provide much reassurance, which is why it is important to understand that this Bill can only be one part of a much wider arsenal to tighten gaps where they exist, in both the private and public sectors.]

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[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Kanishka Narayan): … I will take up the point made by the right hon. Member for New Forest East (Sir Julian Lewis) about the juiciness of local government digital provision. I share his enthusiasm. The Government’s cyber action plan takes into account wider Government and public sector coverage. In fact, it strengthens, clarifies and joins up how lead Government Departments hold the wider public sector, including local government, to account for improved and equivalent cyber-resilience. ...]