How secure are we from EMP?

Just spotted this little gem in Hansard,

Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has conducted on the likely magnitude of an electromagnetic pulse weapon attack upon the UK and the consequences of such an attack.

Bill Rammell: The Ministry of Defence has undertaken electromagnetic pulse research in a number of areas. This information is being withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

Now, fair enough, I understand why you would hold back such information. After all, no one who owns a house does a security assessment and then posts the vulnerabilities on the door for all to see.

However, that doesn't mean I think that you couldn't discuss certain aspects out in the open. After, the USA has an EMP Commissionwhich have produced publicly accessible reports on the threat to civilian infrastructure from an EMP attack.

Yes, security is important, but it seems to me that the impact of a non-nuclear EMP could have far greater consequences than any conventional weapon simply designed to blow things up. After all, taking out all electrical devices in a pulse radius could cripple the city.

So, should the UK have it's own EMP Commission and you it be more accessible to the public?