Following the Government statement on Huawei’s involvement in the UK’s 5G network, Jonathan Djanogly calls for any agreement with Huawei to include a bond to pay for replacement equipment should there be a breach in our national security.
Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon) (Con)
If Huawei were to obtain the 5G contract and if it were to breach our national security, presumably the priority would be to ensure that the future contract, whoever obtained it, would be at the cost of Huawei. Would it therefore be sensible to seek some kind of bond—if Huawei were to obtain the contract—to ensure that it would pay for someone to replace it quickly if that were necessary?
Matt Warman
I think that the hon. Gentleman is inviting me to enter into contractual negotiations already, which I am reluctant to do. However, he is of course absolutely right to say, or to imply, that the decision that will be made will have ramifications for many years. He is right to take that strategic long view, which is what the National Security Council will also do.