Britain unveils a package of spending cuts this week — the harshest since World War II — but counterterrorism and cyber attack prevention are among areas expected to get funding boosts.
Terrorism and cyber warfare have been identified as the two most serious threats facing Britain, and a higher priority than preparing for another international military conflict, according to Britain’s national security strategy — a detailed plan that will spell out the country’s security priorities Monday.
The announcement comes just days after the head of Britain’s eavesdropping agency, GCHQ, warned of the threat that cyber attacks pose to the country’s computer infrastructure. Iain Lobban said 20,000 malicious e-mails had been detected on government networks each month, and significant disruption had already been caused by electronic worms.
Preventing another attack like the 2005 suicide bombings that killed 52 London commuters is also a top priority. U.S. and British intelligence officials say a credible European terror plot is still active and being monitored.
“While military spending on big ticket items like jets and tanks will probably be decreased, it is true that we will likely see spending hikes in cyber attack and terror prevention,” said a British government official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Monday’s strategy sets the scene for Tuesday’s Strategic Defense and Security Review, which will detail areas to be sacrificed to achieve the 7 percent to 8 percent savings demanded by Britain’s treasury.
Overall spending cuts will be announced Wednesday where government ministries are likely to see their budgets reduced by up to 25 percent over four years — far more than any other British administration since World War II has attempted, even under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Home Office Secretary Teresa May said Monday efficiencies are possible without sacrificing security.
Another British official who spoke…