Lord Cromwell (CB)

My Lords, I support this amendment. Undersea cables are our critical infrastructure. They are the arteries in and out of the heart of the UK’s economy, its defence, our national commerce and even our ability to communicate. They are fundamental to our security, our stability and our very survival as a society. The fact that the legislation for this vital 21st-century infrastructure has not seriously been updated since the mid-19th century, with its laughable £100 fine for negligence, is a perfect illustration of how for decades we have taken for granted our security and resilience. We need to stop being complacent and wake up to the reality that we need to protect these cables as our lifeline to and from the world beyond our shores. Part of what needs to be done is embodied in this amendment, with its punitive deterrence of interference with the cables. The debate in the other place recognised the need to act, as did the government response, which stated that what is needed is “strong deterrents, such as major fines and criminal liability”. Yes, there is much else to be done to build the UK’s resilience, increase our defences and deter our adversaries, but this is part of that strategy, and I urge the Minister and the House to give it their support.