Member

I turn to the questions around scope and the model of regulator at which we are looking, as well as Amendments 76 and 77 on the definition and designation of essential services. I agree that a clear framework is needed for bringing additional organisations into scope of the NIS regulations. However, these criteria should ensure that only the UK’s most critical services are brought into scope, in keeping with the objectives of the NIS regulations. By shifting the definition of “essential” to focus on assessments of material impact only, rather than the systemic importance of the activity, the new criteria would risk significantly expanding the scope of the regulations to capture many more businesses, both large and small. We will talk further about the scope of the Bill in later groups, but I just note in respect of JLR that the UKEF guarantee was not a bailout; UKEF will receive payment for providing its guarantee.