The East Belfast MP is a member of the Defence Select Committee in Parliament.
He said, “The revelation that personal information relating to current and former members of the Armed Forces has been accessed is of real concern. The PSNI data breach highlighted the issues which particularly impact upon people from Northern Ireland given the particular security concerns we face.
It is important that the MoD can identify exactly how many individuals are affected and work with them to provide not just reassurance, but practical support. As with the PSNI data leak, those concerns will exist not just in the short-term, but over an extended period of time.
Whilst we do not know the circumstances surrounding this incident, the threat from cyber-attacks, whether from hostile states or criminal gangs is significant for institutions both in the public and private sector. It is important as a nation that we are equipped to combat that threat.”