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The State Secretary for Culture said that it was possible that a criminal investigation be opened on a leak of a National Security Council meeting.
Intelligence agencies must be convinced that advice given to ministers will remain confidential, Jeremy Wright told MPs.
The Daily Telegraph announced that the NSC had agreed to let the Chinese company Huawei help it build the 5G network of the United Kingdom.
Former Defense Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said the leak was "too serious" for a standard Whitehall investigation.
Sir Michael, who was defense secretary between 2014 and 2017, said all those present at the meeting should be subjected to a "proper investigation of Scotland Yard", and that secret information be divulged from the most secret of government agencies was an offense. which is the National Security Council ".
The NSC is made up of senior ministers. Chaired by the Prime Minister, it meets weekly to discuss the government's national security objectives – with other ministers, senior officials, and armed forces personnel and intelligence services when needed.
It is a place where secret intelligence can be shared by the GCHQ, MI6 and MI5 with ministers, all of whom have signed the Official Secrets Act.
After Tuesday's meeting, the Daily Telegraph announced that the NSC had agreed to allow Chinese telecoms giant Huawei to limit access to the UK 5G network, despite warnings of potential risks to national security .
He also noted that several ministers had expressed concerns about this plan.
Former National Security Advisor, Lord Ricketts, told the BBC that this was the first time anyone had committed a major leak of CNS since its inception in 2010. He added that he was in favor of a thorough investigation, possibly involving MI5 investigators, the culprit feels very uncomfortable ".
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Theresa May's spokeswoman said national security was "of utmost importance"
The official spokeswoman for Theresa May declined to confirm whether a government leak investigation was underway, but said: "The Prime Minister is clear about the fact that information protection on security issues national importance is of the utmost importance. "
Earlier, Wright said in the House of Commons, "We can not exclude the possibility of a criminal investigation here and everyone will want to take this suggestion seriously."
He said security officials "need to feel that they can give advice to ministers, that they will treat them seriously and keep them confidential." They do not feel that they will not give us these tips, the government will be worse. "
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said that in addition to the security problem, the anger over the leak was a testament to the government's frustration with the failure of the discipline:
First of all, it's a security issue, of course, but there's an interesting secondary plot – the anger over this leak is partly an indication of the government's frustration with the Cabinet's behavior and the standardization of lack of discipline.
– Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) April 25, 2019
End of Twitter post by @bbclaurak
For the Labor Party, Jo Platt, the shadow cabinet minister, said: "If the leak was an advantage in a leadership race for the Conservatives, it would be really shocking.
"Critical issues of national security must be treated with the utmost care and must not be used as political ammunition in a civil war of the conservative party."
Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt denied that the leak had reached him, saying it was "absolutely horrendous". Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson also denied that the leak had reached him.
Interior Minister Sajid Javid said the disclosure of confidential information was "totally unacceptable", adding, "If that happens, you have to watch it."
What was the leak?
At the NSC meeting, the ministers decided whether to allow the use of Huawei's equipment for the construction of the new 5G data network, a decision that could have long-term consequences for national security.
It is to be feared that giving Chinese society a key role opens the British network to spying.
But Huawei denied that there is a risk of espionage or sabotage, or that it is controlled by the Chinese government.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Huawei would be allowed to contribute to the construction of "non-essential" elements of the UK's 5G network, such as antennas.
There has been no official confirmation of Huawei's role in the 5G network and No. 10 has indicated that a final decision would be made in the late spring.
Why is the leak important?
By Frank Gardner, BBC Security Correspondent
The leak of Tuesday's National Security Committee meeting is both grave and unprecedented.
Lord Ricketts, a former national security advisor in David Cameron's government, confirmed that there had never been a "major deliberate leak" immediately after a meeting of the NSC.
He supports a formal investigation while others go further, calling for a criminal investigation involving the police and MI5.
So, why is it so bad?
Because the NSC is supposed to be the only place in Whitehall where extremely sensitive secret intelligence can be shared openly with ministers.
Those present will have signed the law on official secrets, authorizing them to handle secret information.
Breaking this "circle of trust" could undermine the work of the three British intelligence agencies – GCHQ, MI5 and MI6 – potentially putting agents at risk.
Historically, leak investigations rarely find the culprit, although in this case, there may be an electronic path that exposes the fugitive.
But what they are going to do, says Lord Ricketts, is to dissuade the culprit from the fear of God, which discourages them from doing it again.
Why are people worried about Huawei?
Since at least 2012, the United States has been warned that Huawei's equipment posed a threat to security.
Last year, a British government report said that it could only provide "limited badurance" that the company's infrastructure did not pose a threat to national security.
At present, the United States wants its allies from the intelligence group "Five Eyes" – the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – to exclude society.
Last year, Australia prevented its networks from using Huawei's 5G hardware.
What is 5G?
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5G promises great benefits but may carry higher security risks
5G is the next (fifth) generation of mobile Internet connectivity, promising much faster data download and download speeds, wider coverage, and more stable connections.
Existing spectrum bands are becoming more congested, resulting in breakdowns, especially when many people in the same area are trying to access services simultaneously.
The 5G is also much better able to handle thousands of devices simultaneously, from phones to equipment sensors, to video cameras and smart streetlights.
Current 4G mobile networks can offer speeds of about 45 Mbps (megabits per second) on average. Experts say that the 5G – which is starting to be introduced in the UK this year – could allow browsing and downloads up to 20 times faster.
- Learn more about 5G
- Six British cities designated as pioneers of 5G
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