The Indian-owned carmaking giant will be bailed out after a cyberattack stalled car production and its downstream supply chain. Critics argue that the bailout sends the wrong message to hackers and crime groups.

Ministers hope the loan, from a commercial bank and underwritten by the government, will give certainty to suppliers.

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle announced a loan guarantee scheme to keep afloat small firms that supply the car maker and employ 120,000 people.