Questions are raised over threat to Cornwall's communication cables

A MINISTER has warned foreign adversaries pose an increased threat to Britain's critical undersea infrastructure.

- by ROBERT WHITE

About 60 undersea cables carry 99% of the data used by the UK for global communications, internet access and financial transactions.

Many of these originate or come ashore in Cornwall.

In the past they were protected by their inaccessibility, as they were either buried under the seabed or laid on it, depending on whether they needed additional protection in shallower waters.

However, Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard has told fellow MPs and members of the Lords there are significant threats to these lines, particularly 12 transatlantic cables.

Giving evidence to Parliament's Joint Committee on National Security Strategy, Mr Pollard said: "I think there's certainly a newfound understanding that cables are a target and so, where this was not really spoken about a few decades ago, it is now a regular topic of conversation.