Official Report 492KB pdf
Agenda item 3 is our “Brussels Bulletin”. Do members have any questions, queries or comments?
I draw members’ attention to page 7 and the item that is titled “Cybersecurity”, which is about the vision for the internet of things, or IOT. That means that, in future, more and more electronic devices will be able to communicate and share data in a variety of ways, presumably to help people to make decisions and choices. However, with that comes a concern about security and data security when it is shared.
I was concerned to read that Europe’s cybersecurity agency feels that it is “unprepared” for the challenge. Although I do not think that there is any work for the committee on the issue, it is worth highlighting it, and perhaps we could get more information about it. As the Luxembourg ambassador mentioned, the digital single market is very important, and the internet of things is a natural progression for technology to take, but it brings risks. I was a wee bit surprised to read that a European security agency is unprepared for that eventuality. Somewhere in Europe, some work must be being done on the issue.
We will do some investigations and discuss the matter at a later date.
Is there anything else in the “Brussels Bulletin” that is exercising members?
Yes. On agriculture, I notice that there is a €500 million emergency package to support European farmers—basically, it is for the dairy sector. Do we know yet the amounts that the Scottish Government will have to give to Scottish dairy farmers?
That information is imminent. I am sure that Richard Lochhead now has some dialogue set up on that, so we can investigate that and find out.
Okay—thank you.
If there are no other comments, can we commend the “Brussels Bulletin” to other subject committees of the Parliament? Should we raise the two items that members have mentioned with the appropriate committees, which are the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee and the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee?
Members indicated agreement.
That concludes our business in public today. I thank those in the very full public gallery—I hope that you all got something out of the committee and we look forward to maybe engaging with you all on social media. I know that you are all quite new university students. Thank you all very much for your attendance.
10:56 Meeting continued in private until 11:26.