Staff have been hired to help fight cybercrime, the Minister of National Security announced.

Michael Weeks told the House of Assembly that the ministry headquarters had been given an increase of 4 per cent in the Budget to $4,966,000, which included the hiring of three people for the Cybersecurity Unit.

Mr Weeks said the ministry headquarter’s administration team had fulfilled 80 per cent of its performance measures for approving information systems and risk management policies.

He told MPs: “Policies for the upgraded Cybersecurity Act, Cybersecurity Regulations and Computer Misuse Act were finalised and approved by Cabinet.

“The Acts, based on approved policies, were drafted and approved by Parliament.

“The updated information system risk management programme policy has been developed and is awaiting review by the Cybersecurity Advisory Board and Cabinet Cybersecurity Committee.”

Mr Weeks said that monthly meetings had been held with several ministry heads to share “pertinent information” relating to cybersecurity.

He said these included updates from the public service executive as well as reports on the status of the cabinet memorandum.

Mr Weeks said there were regular updates from the Department of Employee and Organisational Development on recruitment and fresh financial details had been given on budgeting and procurement.

Mr Weeks added: “The informal meetings were designed to encourage and exchange ideas in a relaxed setting on any topic.”

He said that further cybersecurity recommendations from Parliament’s joint select committee would be made available when the group reconvened.

Mr Weeks was asked by the Opposition whether or not the Government had to pay a ransom during the 2023 hack of its IT systems.

He responded: “I think those kinds of questions should be heard offline.”

Mr Weeks added that the JSC or David Burt, the Premier and Minister of Finance, would be better suited to address such a query.