Undersea cables

National Security Strategy (Joint Committee) Open Inquiry
Opened: 23 Jan 2025 Parliament page
Undersea cables form the backbone of the world’s internet. The UK has around 60 cables which connect us to the outside world, carrying 99% of our data. Concern has been growing about the risk of these cables being sabotaged by foreign states. The consequences would be extensive. This inquiry will … Read more
21 Recommendations
7 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
2 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 8 events
18 Dec
2025
Report published
19 Sep
2025
Report published
8 Sep
2025
Correspondence
14 Jul
2025
Correspondence
30 Jun
2025
Oral evidence
9 Jun
2025
Oral evidence
19 May
2025
Oral evidence
12 May
2025
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
30 Jun 2025
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Undersea cables - 4th session - ministerial
Kevin Adams · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Luke Pollard MP · Ministry of Defence Paul Wyatt · Ministry of Defence Sir Chris Bryant MP · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
9 Jun 2025
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Undersea cables - 3rd session
Alasdair Wilkie · Atlantic Cable Maintenance & Repair Agreement (ACMA) Alex Towers · BT Group Chief Constable Gavin Stephens · National Police Chiefs' Council Dr Fenella Wrigley MBE · London Ambulance Service John Wrottesley · European Subsea Cables Association Laura Catterick · UK Finance Mick McGovern · Alcatel Submarine Networks
19 May 2025
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Undersea cables - 2nd session
Captain Niels Markussen · NATO Commodore (Rtd) John Aitken OBE · Thales Dr Marie Jacobsson · Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs Professor Aurel Sari · University of Exeter
12 May 2025
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Undersea cables - 1st session
Dr Sidharth Kaushal · Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) Elisabeth Braw · Atlantic Council Matthew Bowden · Red Penguin Marine Professor Kevin Rowlands · Kings College London
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report - Subsea telecommunications cables: resilience and cr… HC 723 19 Sep 2025 28 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
1 result
Clear
19 Recommendation Rejected
1st Report - Subsea telecommunicat…
The Government should explore new options for taking a more robust approach to interdicting suspicious...
The Government should explore new options for taking a more robust approach to interdicting suspicious vessels—for example applying piracy provisions to cables that land in the UK or seeking a limited extension of domestic criminal law jurisdiction. It should commission … Read more
Government Response
The government partially agrees but explicitly rejects applying piracy provisions to cables or commissioning an external legal opinion on this issue, citing the importance of consistency with UNCLOS, international partner views, and the risk of reciprocal action. It states options to counter suspicious vessels are kept under continuous review.
Cabinet Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 28 of 21 classified
Accepted 6
Accepted in Part 7
Acknowledged 1
Deferred 4
Not Addressed 9
Rejected 1
Total 21 recs + 7 conclusions
Correspondence 2 letters
8 Sep 2025 Correspondence from Sir Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology regarding the oral evidence held on 14 July concerning the Undersea cables inquiry, dated 15 August 2025
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14 Jul 2025 Correspondence from Sir Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology following oral evidence held on 30 June on Undersea cables, dated 10 July 2025
Parliament page