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Lord Birt (CB)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 3 September 2026

Debate

Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill

Contribution

Let me just say, very briefly, that, as I made clear earlier in the week, the scope of the Bill is far too narrow. I suggested and will continue to suggest that we have to extend the definition of essential services. I remind all noble Lords, despite all the things we have been talking about this afternoon, that the organisations in the framing of the Bill, as drafted, are our national infrastructure sectors, not the great width of the economy or the public sector. In my amendments, I have suggested that we should have a definition of essential services that covers the economy—JLA and Marks & Spencer are not covered in the Bill—and society in general. We have just heard an excellent account of why education has to be included, as does defence and security. I do not think that we should be picking and mixing and putting a small number of sectors in the Bill. We need a conceptual approach to what we bring into the orbit of the Bill and we need a process in the Bill to ensure that that happens.

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