Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent steps he has taken to phase out animal testing.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, which is a long-term goal. The Government invests £10m annually in the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) to accelerate the development and adoption of 3Rs approaches. A significant amount of research funding in the UK also goes to underpinning technologies that have the potential to deliver the 3Rs, driving forward innovation.

The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to consult with private sector digital identification providers about the future development of the UK digital identification ecosystem, including the Gov.uk digital wallet and the mobile driving licence.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Office for Digital Identities and Attributes (OfDIA) regularly engages with a wide range of stakeholders including digital verification service providers, civil society, regulators, and other experts from academia and think tanks.

With regard to the GOV.UK Wallet and the mobile driving licence, OfDIA and the Government Digital Service have an event on 14 May 2025 to engage with digital verification providers on how the GOV.UK Wallet can work with and alongside private sector solutions to offer users the best experience and appropriate choice. This will be followed by technical engagement with providers in the coming months.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to facilitate US-based academics and researchers who may wish to consider relocating to the UK's higher education sector.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The government recognises and values the US as a key partner in R&D and look forward to continuing our collaboration on shared priorities to drive economic growth and technological advancement. Both the UK and US are committed to facilitating the exchange of talent and students to enhance R&D capabilities.

The government is committed to ensuring the UK is the top destination for globally mobile research talent based anywhere in the world. The UK boasts a world-leading science base, supported by top universities and research institutions, and has an ambitious funding offer through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Academies, which offer prestigious fellowships and professorships.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to develop UK sovereign AI capacity; and on what timeframe.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The AI Opportunities Action Plan, launched in January, outlines 50 actions to drive AI development and deployment. The government has committed to taking forward all recommendations, including the establishment of a new, sovereign AI unit with a clear mandate to maximise the UK's stake in frontier AI.

Building sovereign capabilities will enable the UK to harness the economic potential of advanced AI whilst safeguarding our national security, in the context of rapid AI development. The government has already partnered with leading AI companies, such as Anthropic, to explore AI opportunities in the UK. More details of the sovereign AI programme will be announced in due course.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions he has had with Ofcom on physical infrastructure access pricing for full fibre broadband.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Ofcom’s Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) framework supports market entry and expansion by alternative network operators via access to Openreach’s ducts, poles, and other utility infrastructure.

Ofcom has powers to impose access conditions on electronic communications networks, enabling third party infrastructure access on fair and reasonable terms, conditions and charges, and without undue discrimination.

My officials meet with Ofcom on a regular basis to discuss a range of regulatory issues including PIA. The Government supports this framework but will not intervene in independent Ofcom decisions regarding fee pricing structure or the adequacy of the current level of fees.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current level of Physical Infrastructure Access fees.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Ofcom’s Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) framework supports market entry and expansion by alternative network operators via access to Openreach’s ducts, poles, and other utility infrastructure.

Ofcom has powers to impose access conditions on electronic communications networks, enabling third party infrastructure access on fair and reasonable terms, conditions and charges, and without undue discrimination.

My officials meet with Ofcom on a regular basis to discuss a range of regulatory issues including PIA. The Government supports this framework but will not intervene in independent Ofcom decisions regarding fee pricing structure or the adequacy of the current level of fees.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with industry stakeholders on the remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022; and what further consultations he has planned.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Discussions on the remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 have focused on the Government’s intention to commence the provisions, and to hold public consultations. Stakeholders have also been asked to provide data on the cases affected.

A technical consultation on draft regulations to commence Sections 61 – 64 of the Act, dealing with certain Renewal agreements, was published on 7 May 2025.

The Government is considering the best approach to commencing Section 70, relating to complaints procedures.

The other outstanding provisions relate to court jurisdiction and unresponsive landowners. Work is underway to commence these provisions.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the regulation of the development of artificial intelligence technologies on investment in those technologies.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

In response to the AI Opportunities Action Plan, the Government is prioritising investment into the AI sector and creating the right conditions to ensure global AI companies want to call the UK home.

The Action Plan sets out a number of recommendations on how the Government can proactively work with regulators to support our ambitions for AI and growth, which the Government will be taking forward.

The Government is also developing legislative proposals which will allow us to safely realise the enormous benefits of the most powerful AI systems. We will be launching a public consultation in due course to ensure our proposals are proportionate and support innovation.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of levels of media literacy skills on (a) the employability and (b) workplace readiness of young people.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

According to the Essential Digital Skills Framework, media literacy-related skills, including understanding online risks, are essential for work. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has worked with FutureDotNow to analyse the benefits of essential digital skills for earnings and employability, with findings being published shortly.

The Digital Inclusion Action Plan outlines steps towards delivering digital inclusion and media literacy for everyone in the UK. The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review is also considering how young people will acquire the digital skills needed for future life, with the interim report highlighting the need for a renewed focus on media literacy.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact that poor media literacy skills have on (1) young people's employability and (2) employers' concerns about workplace readiness.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

According to the Essential Digital Skills Framework, media literacy-related skills, including understanding online risks, are essential for work. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has worked with FutureDotNow to analyse the benefits of essential digital skills for earnings and employability, with findings being published shortly.

The Digital Inclusion Action Plan outlines steps towards delivering digital inclusion and media literacy for everyone in the UK. The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review is also considering how young people will acquire the digital skills needed for future life, with the interim report highlighting the need for a renewed focus on media literacy.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what role they envisage for (1) civil society, and (2) community organisations, in delivering lifelong media literacy programmes for adults.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Civil society and community organisations are instrumental in delivering media literacy programmes to adults, leveraging their expertise to support diverse and vulnerable groups. Libraries and community centres provide accessible locations where adults of all ages can get guidance and advice.

The Digital Inclusion Action Plan also outlines steps toward delivering digital inclusion and media literacy for everyone in the UK, including supporting local and community initiatives to increase digital participation.

Under updated media literacy duties, Ofcom is developing a ‘place-based’ model to embed media literacy into community digital strategies, working with the Good Things Foundation to support Digital Inclusion Hubs.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the article in Nature titled "Why an overreliance on AI-driven modelling is bad for science"; and what steps they are taking, if any, to ensure that research funding and government assessment of research takes account of the risks identified by this article.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The government recognises that AI is having a transformative impact on science, and the UK is positioned to be a world leader in this emerging field.

This will also present novel risks. The UK Metascience Unit is investing £4m to explore AI’s impact on research and improve our understanding of these risks. Insights from this will be used to inform the government’s R&D policy.

We are dedicated to maintaining research integrity amid AI adoption. The UK Committee on Research Integrity (UKCORI) is examining the intersection of AI and research integrity, with recommendations expected this year. Investments in Responsible AI UK and skills training are driving more responsible AI use in science.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of transitioning to animal free medical research methods on the economy.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”. The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year, which will consider economic impacts.

Home to world leading research and pharmaceutical businesses, the UK is well positioned to capitalise on the global non-animal technologies for life sciences market, estimated to be worth $29.4 billion by 2030, and on the scientific and economic advantages of more human-relevant methods applied in product development and testing.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of transitioning to animal free medical research methods on public health.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”.

Recent developments in technology, in particular cell biology, organoids and AI, promise a step-change in the utility of alternatives to animal testing, which are expected to be more accurate than current animal-based approaches. These alternatives have the potential to improve understanding of human disease, reduce research development time and improve efficacy of therapeutics, providing substantial benefits for public health. The Government will publish a strategy for supporting the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to improve access to media literacy education.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology coordinates media literacy activity across government, including in its approach to digital inclusion which integrates policy on digital skills and media literacy. The Digital Inclusion Action Plan outlines steps to support community initiatives for boosting digital skills and media literacy.

In formal education, the government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review which aims to ensure a rich, inclusive and innovative curriculum that readies young people for life and work. The Review’s interim report, published in March, highlights the need for a focus on media literacy in response to evolving technological challenges.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he is taking steps to help support a transition to animal-free medical research methods.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, which is a long-term goal. While it is not yet possible to replace all animal use due to the complexity of biological systems and regulatory requirements, we support the development and application of approaches that replace, reduce and refine animal use in research (the 3Rs). Work to support this transition must be science-led and in lock step with partners.

The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the launch of (1) the Gov.uk digital wallet, and (2) the certification of the One Login digital identification system, on (a) investment, and (b) existing private sector digital identity systems.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

GOV.UK Wallet

The GOV.UK Wallet is in the early stages of its development, and its announcement in January was the beginning of the design and build of the product. The GOV.UK Wallet is subject to the rigorous and well-established process designed to ensure value for money and alignment with government priorities. As we progress, the value and impact (including on businesses) will be further evaluated, including during the forthcoming Spending Review.

GOV.UK One Login

GOV.UK One Login enables the public to interact with government services online with a single account and identity-checking system. GOV.UK One Login can only be used to access government services. Its certification against the trust framework demonstrates it is meeting best practice and high standards, but does not change where or how it can be used.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what independent verification they sought to assess the security of the One Login digital identification system.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The GOV.UK One Login works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to identify and mitigate risks and align to the Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) which the Government Cyber Security Strategy 2022-2030 outlines as the assurance framework that should be adopted by the government. Findings from the recent CAF GovAssure process identified areas of good practice including governance, risk management, assurance, monitoring, incident management and lessons learned. The programme has conducted multiple independent risk and threat assessments, such as regular IT Health Checks (ITHC), and these will continue to be part of the programme’s operating approach.

In addition GOV.UK One Login works closely with the Information Commissioners’ Office (ICO) on programme developments, including iterations of the Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA).

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the remarks in November 2023 by the Government Digital Service Chief Information Security Officer that the One Login digital identification system was "indeed carrying a high level of risk", what progress they have made to address any security and technical issues.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

These comments are outdated and reflect a view from when the programme was in its infancy in 2023. We have worked to address all these concerns as evidenced by multiple external independent assessments such as the recent Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) GovAssure process which identified areas of good practice including governance, risk management, assurance, monitoring, incident management and lessons learned. Risk mitigation will continue to be central to our approach to ensure we keep pace with the constantly changing cyber threat landscape.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that only individuals with the appropriate security clearance have privileged access to the One Login digital identification system live service.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

GOV.UK One Login takes the security clearance and audit of personnel very seriously. All individuals with production access to Government Digital Service (GDS) systems must undergo a Security Check (SC). There are some individuals working within the GOV.UK One Login programme who are not SC-cleared, however they will not have production access to the service.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what governance arrangements are in place for the Cyber Local fund in Northern Ireland; and what steps he plans to take to allow local groups in Northern Ireland to provide input into the initiative.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

For the 2024/25 Cyber Local pilot, regional steering groups were established to review expressions of interest from potential applicants. The Northern Ireland steering group comprised individuals from industry, academia, and the NI Executive, and was responsible for ensuring that proposals met a local need and did not duplicate existing interventions. Endorsement from the steering group was a prerequisite for accessing a Cyber Local grant via Innovate UK.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address security issues in the One Login digital identification system.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

GOV.UK One Login follows the highest security standards for government and private sector services. As the public rightly expects, protecting the security of government services and the data and privacy of users to keep pace with the changing cyber threat landscape is paramount.

Security best practice is followed with a number of layered security controls which include: Security clearances for staff with ‘Security Check’ clearance required for all developers with production access; Identity and access management controls that block staff from viewing or altering personal information; A secure by design and compartmentalised system architecture; Technical controls around building and deployments; Logging and monitoring to alert on access to environments that contain personally identifiable information; and robust procedures for addressing any unauthorised or unaccounted for access.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure that ongoing work under the digital identities framework to digitise (a) sex and (b) other personal information incorporates safeguards to guarantee the information used is accurate where it might be recorded differently on (i) passports, (ii) driving licences and (iiI) other documents.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Digital identities do not offer a new way to determine sex or gender. As with physical verification, individual organisations are responsible for determining what precise information it is appropriate to verify in a particular case and how they verify that to meet their requirements. The UK digital identity and attributes trust framework creates rules for how digital identity services operate. It does not set requirements for how government departments record sex and other personal information. Under data protection law, personal data which is processed must be accurate for the purposes for which it is processed.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding of the report Computer Says No by the New Britain Project that Britons spend 1.52 billion hours a year dealing with personal administration; and what impact this issue has on overall productivity.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is aware of the claim made in Computer Says No by the New Britain Project that Britons lose 1.52 billion hours annually to personal administration. This figure is derived by extrapolating an average minutes per week per adult across the UK adult population.

The Government recognises the importance of reducing the 'time tax' on individuals. As outlined in A blueprint for modern digital government (CP 1252, January 2025), the Government is developing a new methodology to measure this burden and is committed to reducing it as part of its digital reform programme, to support productivity and improve service delivery.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on private digital identification service providers of the free use of One Login by Companies House; and whether they will refer this to the Competition and Markets Authority to ensure there is no market distortion.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

GOV.UK One Login is a centrally funded programme, to deliver one ‘front door’ for government services in order to replace the previous landscape of siloed and duplicative sign-in and identity-proofing methods. This will save time for users and taxpayer money by avoiding duplication across government. As an organisation within government, Companies House services are included in this government programme. As is the case with all other government services on GOV.UK One Login, the service is free to use to enable inclusive and easy access to public services.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure that people in rural areas have equal access to broadband services.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Project Gigabit is the government’s programme to roll out fast, reliable broadband to UK premises that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans. Over 35 contracts, with a combined value of over £2.3 billion, have already been signed to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to over 1 million premises, predominantly in rural areas.

Last week we announced a £157 million contract with Openreach to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to up to 65,000 rural and hard-to-reach premises across Central, Northern and Western Scotland, including in the Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey constituency.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to improve the availability of cellular networks in rural areas.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The government wants all areas of the UK to benefit from reliable, high quality mobile coverage. We continue to work with Ofcom to ensure that their coverage reporting is as accurate as possible to allow us to reliably and accurately identify underserved areas.

4G geographic coverage from at least one mobile operator has now reached over 95% of the UK landmass, and we continue to work with the industry to deliver 4G mobile connectivity to places where there is either limited or no coverage.

Our ambition is to go further, and for all populated areas, including rural communities, to have access to higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030. We continue to work closely with the mobile network operators and are committed to ensuring we have the right policy and regulatory framework in place to support investment and competition in the market.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answers of 25 April 2025 to Question 46855 and 46855 on Government Digital Service: Gender and Government Digital Service: Sex, what his timetable is for the review of the GOV.UK Design System guidance on equality information; and if he will make it his policy to hold a consultation on the draft guidance.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

In response to a previous question from the Hon Member, it was noted that GDS would review the Design System’s guidance in line with any changes to the Code of Practice issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). The Commission has since confirmed that it will be undertaking a review into the Code of Practice. Once concluded, the Commission aims to provide the updated Code of Practice to HM Government by the end of June for ministerial approval.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025, to Question 46855 on Government Digital Service: Gender and Government Digital Service: Sex, whether Stonewall advised on the previous guidance.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Stonewall did not advise GDS in developing the extant Design System guidance.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government which ministers, officials, and external experts attended the meeting held at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday 16 April regarding the establishment of UK sovereign AI capacity; and what criteria were used to select the expert participants.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The AI Opportunities Action Plan, launched in January, outlines 50 actions to drive AI development. We are committed to strengthening the UK sector and supporting the emergence of leading UK AI companies. A broad programme of engagement is a critical part of this commitment. The sovereign AI team has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders, including academics, founders, and investors throughout the UK and will continue to do so.

This recent event, focused on building UK capabilities, was part of that ongoing engagement, and participants were invited accordingly.

Ministerial meetings are published according to normal transparency requirements on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what lessons they learned from GOV.UK Verify, and how they will apply those lessons to the development and governance of the One Login digital identification system.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The lessons learned from GOV.UK Verify have formed a core part of how GOV.UK One Login has been developed. For example, GOV.UK One Login is a centrally funded programme to encourage adoption. GOV.UK One Login also accepts multiple types of evidence, and allows users to choose from three identity verification routes, including visiting the Post Office to prove their identity in person, increasing success rates and inclusion.

The programme is governed by a cross government programme board, to ensure that Departments using the service are kept at the centre of programme delivery and as a Government Major Portfolio Programme (GMPP) it is subject to cross government assurance. The Infrastructure and Projects Authority has reviewed the programme positively in the last three Assurance Gateway Reviews.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent progress his Department has made in encouraging a shift from animal testing towards greater use of synthetic analogues for human biological systems.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, which is a long-term goal. While it is not yet possible to replace all animal use due to the complexity of biological systems and regulatory requirements, we support the development and application of approaches that replace, reduce and refine animal use in research (the 3Rs), such as the use of synthetic analogues for human biological systems.

The Government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what requirements they have placed on BT to consult customers about the implementation of the Digital Voice rollout, particularly for vulnerable customers or those in rural areas.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is determined to ensure that any risks arising from the industry-led migration of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated for all customers across the UK.

Major communication providers, including BT, signed a voluntary charter in December 2023 to protect vulnerable customers. A definition of vulnerable customers who may require additional support in the context of the PSTN switch-off was published in November 2024. It includes the landline-dependent and those living in rural areas. In November 2024, providers agreed to additional safeguards in the Non-Voluntary Migrations Checklist. This includes requirements for timely and repeated communication with customers ahead of their non-voluntary migration.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their response to the recommendation by the Children's Commissioner for England to ban 'nudification' apps that enable users to generate sexually explicit images of real people.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Government refuses to tolerate violence against women and girls. Sexually explicit deepfakes are degrading and harmful.

We are legislating to ban their creation in the Data (Use and Access) Bill and have introduced a further offence in the Crime and Policing Bill to criminalise the possession, creation or distribution of AI tools designed to generate child sexual abuse material.

Government is also actively looking at options to address ‘nudification’ tools themselves.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what his expected timeline is for full-fibre availability in the SL2 postcode in Slough constituency.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

According to the independent website ThinkBroadband, over 99% of premises in Slough have access to superfast broadband speeds, and over 96% have access to a gigabit-capable (1000 Mbps) connection.

We currently expect the remaining premises in Slough to be reached by suppliers' commercial rollout, but if there are any premises that cannot be covered commercially, they will be considered for inclusion in Project Gigabit or other interventions.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when the last meeting was of the National Space Council.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The National Space Council has not been reinstated under this government. However, along with the Ministry of Defence and other departments, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) remains committed to ensuring that space activities are effectively coordinated across all relevant departments. On 22 April, Ministers from across government met to discuss our approach to this policy area and to develop plans in the government’s Spending Review and Strategic Defence Review.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to establish minimum standards for battery back-up of Digital Voice services during power outages; and what assessment they have made of whether these minimum standards are sufficient for rural areas.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is determined to ensure that any risks arising from the industry-led migration of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated for all customers across the UK.

In November 2024, providers agreed to safeguards in the Non-Voluntary Migrations Checklist including requirements to provide resilience solutions (e.g., battery back-up) for vulnerable customers, including the landline-dependent and those living in rural areas, to enable access to emergency organisations for at least one hour in a power outage. After discussions with government ministers, a number of communication providers have gone beyond this minimum, providing battery back-ups of 4-7 hours.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions has he had with animal protection groups on the phasing out of animal testing.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, which is a long-term goal. The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year. The Government will also be hosting a roundtable shortly with representatives from animal welfare organisations to discuss the strategy.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the distribution of funding for research and development across (a) England, (b) Norfolk and (c) South West Norfolk constituency.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

DSIT's R&D budget is rising to £13.9 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, a real terms increase of 8.5% compared to 2024/25. This will include investments in our R&D system in every region of the UK.

In 2023/24, UKRI invested £8,357 million in England, £141 million in Norfolk and £0.5 million in South West Norfolk.

UKRI’s investments in Norfolk include £317 million for Norwich Research Park to establish a pioneering plant and microbial research hub by 2030.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what routes of recourse exists for writers whose work has been uploaded as pirated material to a database without their consent or knowledge of the authors (a) against the database owners and (b) against any corporations or third parties that have used that database.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government is committed to ensuring a fair and balanced IP system and the protection of IP rights. The UK has a robust framework in place to protect IP rights, which includes both civil and criminal enforcement measures.

Right owners can report IP crime by contacting Trading Standards. They may also consider alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, like mediation, or taking legal action before courts.

With respect to online databases, the Electronic Commerce Regulations 2002 requires platforms to disable or remove IP infringing content that they become aware of or risk legal action.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what role his Department plans for (a) civil society and (b) community organisations in delivering media literacy programmes for adults; and what steps his Department is taking to assist relevant stakeholders with this.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Civil society and community organisations are instrumental in delivering media literacy programmes to adults, leveraging their expertise to support diverse and vulnerable groups. Libraries and community centres provide accessible locations where adults can get guidance and advice.

The Digital Inclusion Action Plan outlines steps toward delivering digital inclusion and media literacy across the UK, including supporting local initiatives to increase digital participation. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology coordinates efforts across government departments and public services on media literacy, collaborating with Ofcom, which engages and convenes civil society and community organisations in its role as online safety regulator.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential benefits for businesses in Aldridge-Brownhills constituency of the £10m grant issued to the West Midlands Innovation Accelerator this year.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

We were delighted to extend the Innovation Accelerator pilot into 2025/26, investing an extra £30 million in growing high-potential clusters in the West Midlands, Glasgow City Region and Greater Manchester.

The West Midlands Innovation Accelerators is supporting a range of projects focused on business innovation. For example, Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator is helping companies navigate “pinch-points” in the medical translation process, and Clean Futures is supporting SMEs to develop, demonstrate and grow clean-tech solutions in partnership with the wider ecosystem.

Innovate UK will continue to work collaboratively with each regional partnership to maximise the impact on their regions.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following reports that Meta will introduce a "consent or pay" model for Facebook and Instagram, whether they will make arrangements to amend the Data (Use and Access) Bill to provide in legislation a person's right to choose to use online services without personalised advertising regardless of the availability of paid ad-free products.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The ICO has recently published guidance on this matter, which states that pay and consent models can be implemented in accordance with the law, so long as websites ensure that consent is still freely given. The guidance sets out a framework of factors that are important to consider when assessing whether a “consent or pay” model meets this standard of consent. This reflects and builds on existing UK GDPR standards and ICO guidance.

The Government will continue to engage with businesses, the ICO and users on these models, and on the guidance, but we do not think there is currently a case for taking action to ban the practice.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on the terms of reference for the Advisory Committee on Online Information.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Ofcom and its advisory committees are independent of government. The design of the advisory committee’s Terms of Reference are therefore a matter for Ofcom.

The Online Safety Act includes clear requirements for the Committee’s responsibilities: advising Ofcom on how providers should address mis- and disinformation, how the regulator should exercise their transparency powers and fulfil their statutory duty to promote media literacy in relation to mis- and disinformation. These obligations are unchanged and are duly reflected in the terms of reference for the Online Information Advisory Committee.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to implement media literacy programmes in (a) local and (b) regional development strategies.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Government is adopting a holistic approach to media literacy, integrating it with digital inclusion and related policy on digital skills. The Digital Inclusion Action Plan outlines steps towards delivering digital inclusion for everyone in the UK, including supporting community initiatives for boosting digital skills and media literacy. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology aims to coordinate and embed media literacy through cross-cutting government strategies.

Under updated media literacy duties, Ofcom is developing a ‘place-based’ model to embed media literacy into community digital strategies, working with the Good Things Foundation to support Digital Inclusion Hubs to offer media literacy.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to media literacy education.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology coordinates media literacy activity across government, including in its approach to digital inclusion which integrates policy on digital skills and media literacy. The Digital Inclusion Action Plan outlines steps to support community initiatives for boosting digital skills and media literacy.

In formal education, the government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review which aims to ensure a rich, inclusive and innovative curriculum that readies young people for life and work. The Review’s interim report, published in March, highlights the need for a focus on media literacy in response to evolving technological challenges.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what Shared Rural Network projects are underway in South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

According to the latest information published by Ofcom outdoor 4G coverage In South Holland and the Deepings, from all four operators, currently stands at 96% and coverage from at least one mobile network operator is almost 100%. Consequently, there will not be any further coverage improvements from the Shared Rural Network in South Holland and the Deepings, and no Shared Rural Network projects are underway.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what proportion of vehicles rented by his Department are electric vehicles.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Department does not hold this information.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will hold discussions with online service platforms on the potential merits of taking steps to ensure that children between 13 and 15 years of age cannot (a) change family safety settings for online devices and (b) turn off their parents' ability to see their online activity without parental consent.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The government has high expectations there will be significant change in online experiences for children, as services start to comply with their duties under the Online Safety Act. Ofcom stands ready to act against services who fall short in protecting users.

Ofcom’s final child safety codes outline over 40 measures that providers should consider to protect children online. Ofcom considered parental controls as part of the evidence base that informed these codes.

Ministers have regular meetings with stakeholders, including social media companies, to discuss protecting children online. Details of ministerial meetings are published quarterly on gov.uk.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision to rename Ofcom's Advisory Committee on Disinformation and Misinformation the "Committee for Online Information"; and whether the Committee will still have the remit of tackling misinformation.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Ofcom and its advisory committees are independent of government. The name of the advisory committee is therefore a matter for Ofcom.

The Online Safety Act makes the Committee’s role clear. The Act mandates that the Committee must advise the regulator on how providers should address mis- and disinformation on their services. It also requires them to advise Ofcom on exercising their transparency powers and fulfilling their statutory duty to promote media literacy in relation to mis- and disinformation. These duties remain unchanged and will be the focus of the new Online Information Advisory Committee.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the National Cyber Security Centre has warned about shortcomings with the One Login system, including risks of bulk personal data breach and mass impersonation fraud; and whether such warnings were shared with the Infrastructure and Projects Authority or the Cabinet Office Audit and Risk Committee.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The GOV.UK One Login programme works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to identify and mitigate risks and align to the Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF). NCSC advises One Login on any key risks which should be prioritised as part of our security efforts. This independent review by NCSC is something we encourage and have continued to prioritise since the programme was established. As a Government Major Projects Portfolio programme (GMPP), the programme is subject to regular internal and external scrutiny and reporting. The Infrastructure and Projects Authority has reviewed the programme positively in the last three Assurance Gateway Reviews.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any disparity in treatment between landline-only customers and those with broadband packages by BT’s Digital Voice rollout; and whether those with copper broadband will be able to terminate their broadband contract and retain a copper landline for telephone use only.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

No assessment of any disparity in treatment has been made. It will not be possible to retain a copper landline for telephone use only. From April 2024 to March 2025, there were over 2,600 major incidents on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), each affecting 500 or more customers. The decision to upgrade the PSTN has been taken by industry and is a necessity.

The PSTN migration does not affect the universal service obligations in the Electronic Communications Order 2003 which require the designated providers (BT and KCOM) to offer landline-only services throughout the UK. It is therefore possible to order a Voice over Internet Protocol landline without purchasing a general internet connection.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of BT’s Digital Voice rollout, what assessment they have made of residences lacking sufficient mains electricity supply to consistently run a router and a modern telephone.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is determined to ensure any risks arising from the industry-led migration of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), also known as Digital Voice, are mitigated for all customers across the UK.

In November 2024, providers, including BT, agreed to safeguards in the Non-Voluntary Migrations Checklist including requirements to provide resilience solutions, such as battery back-up units, for vulnerable customers, including the landline-dependent, to enable access to emergency organisations for at least one hour in a power outage. A number of communication providers have gone beyond this minimum, providing solutions that provide 4 to 7 hours that customers can use to power their router during a power cut.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to exempt off-grid premises from BT's Digital Voice transition.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is working with the telecoms industry and Ofcom, the independent telecoms regulator, to ensure the migration happens safely. In November 2024 major communication providers agreed additional safeguards to protect vulnerable customers. It is for BT to determine their process for the migration, including for those in off-grid premises.

The Government is determined to ensure all risks arising from the industry-led migration of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), also known as Digital Voice, are mitigated for all customers across the UK.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many critical and high-risk vulnerabilities remained open in the live One Login system on 1 April, and what is the target date for full remediation.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

GOV.UK One Login follows the relevant security standards for government and private sector services, and we take addressing security concerns very seriously. As of 1 May, all critical and high vulnerabilities have been addressed. Risk mitigation will continue to be central to our approach to ensure we keep pace with the constantly changing cyber threat landscape.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government why they have not published a mandatory Data Protection Impact Assessment for One Login; whether they obtained explicit user consent for biometric processing prior to live rollout; and whether they conducted statutory prior consultation with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

It is not a mandatory requirement to publish a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA). We do have an obligation to let citizens know how we are processing their data, which we do via a privacy notice published on GOV.UK. We continually develop our DPIA to take into account the new identity verification journeys, such as the no photo ID route. Nevertheless, we are working on a publishable version of our DPIA which will be easy to digest for the public. The One Login programme meets with the Information Commissioners’ Office (ICO) on a monthly basis, engaging openly on programme developments, including iterations of the DPIA, and has been doing so since 2022. The lawful basis for data sharing in place has been agreed by the ICO.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many instances of production environment access to the One Login system were recorded in each month since July 2022; and, for each month, how many of those instances involved individuals who did not hold full Security Check clearance at the time of access.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

GOV.UK One Login takes the security clearance and audit of personnel very seriously. Access to production is granted only to those that require it and is closely monitored. As part of strengthening our approach to privileged access management, all individuals with production access to GOV.UK One Login must undergo a Security Check (SC), alongside further two-person checks for changes and audit loggings of actions. One Login has implemented a policy of SC clearance for all development staff; this is higher than Baselines Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) which is considered sufficient across many parts of government.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether any component of the One Login service was developed offshore without prior consultation with the National Cyber Security Centre; and whether the Government have retrospectively approved any such arrangements.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

No personnel developed components of the One Login service offshore without prior consultation with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). We undertook a risk assessment in consultation with the NCSC before any offshore development by a small number of developers took place.

Any code in GOV.UK One Login that was produced by overseas staff was further subjected to a review by a staff member with Security Check clearance in the UK before it was deployed to production. As of March 2025, there is no longer any off-shored development on GOV.UK One Login.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Cabinet Office has quantified the likelihood and potential impact of insider threats, unauthorised privileged access, and production environment compromise within One Login, as required by ISO 27001 standards and guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre for cloud-hosted government services; and whether they will place copies of such assessments in the Library of the House.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The GOV.UK One Login team collaborates closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to assess and mitigate risks associated with insider threats, unauthorised privileged access, and production environment compromise, aligning with the Cyber Assessment Framework outlined in the Government Cyber Security Strategy 2022-2030. Although the programme does not specifically pursue ISO 27001 certification, it adopts multiple overlapping controls and the risk management framework is based on the HMG Orange Book, which is closely aligned with ISO 27005 guidance on managing information security risks.

While assessments of insider threats have been made, copies of these assessments will not be placed in the Library of the House, as they are part of ongoing security measures and internal governance processes.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology has had with other Cabinet ministers on (1) the scarcity of cybersecurity skills in the UK, and (2) the potential impact of the forthcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill on the availability of cybersecurity talent.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Cyber criminals are attacking our public services and businesses with increased frequency, costing billions of pounds per year. The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will protect more digital businesses than ever, essential services that the public rely on and our national security. The government is committed to minimising additional costs to business and will set out a full assessment of this in an impact assessment, to be published upon introduction of the Bill.

My department is working across government, including working closely with departments who act as cyber sector regulators, to deliver the government’s commitment to reducing the gap in cyber skills. Our assessment of this is set out in the Cyber Security Skills in the UK Labour Market Survey. The priority skillset for the Bill will be the Audit and Assurance specialism, as defined by the UK Cyber Security Council. We have made strides in reducing the gap in these skills this year with a reported fall to 18%, down from 28% in 2023.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to their policy statement on the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, published on 1 April, what assessment they have made of the potential increase in regulatory burdens on cybersecurity professionals.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Cyber criminals are attacking our public services and businesses with increased frequency, costing billions of pounds per year. The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will protect more digital businesses than ever, essential services that the public rely on and our national security. The government is committed to minimising additional costs to business and will set out a full assessment of this in an impact assessment, to be published upon introduction of the Bill.

My department is working across government, including working closely with departments who act as cyber sector regulators, to deliver the government’s commitment to reducing the gap in cyber skills. Our assessment of this is set out in the Cyber Security Skills in the UK Labour Market Survey. The priority skillset for the Bill will be the Audit and Assurance specialism, as defined by the UK Cyber Security Council. We have made strides in reducing the gap in these skills this year with a reported fall to 18%, down from 28% in 2023.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure the accessibility of Government digital services in Banbury.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government Digital Service (GDS) role is to ensure the delivery of digital services that work for all of our citizens. That includes monitoring the services each departments delivers online - to make sure they are providing support for citizens with low technical skills.

Additionally, there is strong regulation in place to provide technical specifications to improve the accessibility of websites and many other digital experiences to ensure that no citizen is left behind during this government's digital revolution.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 47133 on Mobile Broadbands, whether the implementation of part two of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 will be included in the review of the telecommunications market.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is continually engaged with developments in the mobile sector. This involves considering sector-wide investment challenges and technological innovations and their impact on the market and rollout of high-quality infrastructure, as well as mobile signal and coverage issues and the quality of service afforded to mobile customers. This is separate to the Government’s work on the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022. The Government monitors the impacts of the PSTI Act reforms through ongoing tracking of progress against connectivity targets and stakeholder engagement.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the retrospective impact of the implementation of Sections (a) 58, (b) 59 and (c) 61-64 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 and if he will list the limited retrospective effects identified by his Department.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The principle of collective responsibility requires that the privacy of ministerial discussions at cabinet and its committees be maintained. It is a long standing precedent that details of these proceedings are not disclosed publicly.

Sections 58 and 59 introduced limited retrospective rights to upgrade and share apparatus situated under land in specific circumstances. Sections 61 – 64 may have limited retrospective effect once in force: potentially affecting the terms on which affected agreements are renewed on expiry, but not directly altering the terms of any existing agreements. A consultation on draft regulations to commence sections 61-64 is open until 2 July.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have had discussions with BT about publishing a geographical timetable for the Digital Voice rollout, particularly for rural areas.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is determined to ensure that any risks of the industry-led migration from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), also known as Digital Voice, are mitigated for all customers across the UK.

Communication providers, including BT, signed a voluntary PSTN Charter in December 2023, committing them to protecting vulnerable consumers during the PSTN migration. In November 2024, providers agreed to additional safeguards in the Non-Voluntary Migrations Checklist. The Government is engaging regularly with the signatories of the Charter to monitor their plans and to ensure compliance with the Checklist.

The Government have not requested that providers publish geographical timetables. Providers are migrating customers only when the safeguards are in place. Further, providers are starting migrating the least vulnerable customers first, regardless of geography.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he has taken to protect people in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, (b) Staffordshire and (c) the UK from cyber attack.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The cyber security of the UK is a priority for the government. We are taking a range of action to protect people, businesses and the economy from cyber threats. This year the government will introduce the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to improve UK cyber defences and better secure our essential services and the IT infrastructure they rely upon. In Staffordshire, the Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands is part of a nationwide police-led collaboration helping strengthen cyber resilience in small and medium-sized businesses, while the Cyber PROTECT Network operates in every police force area, providing advice and guidance to individuals to help protect against a range of threats and provide support to victims. The government’s Stop! Think Fraud campaign provides the public with advice on how to prevent fraud and cyber crime.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had recent discussions with animal protection groups on phasing out animal experiments.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, which is a long-term goal. The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year. The Government will also be hosting a roundtable shortly with representatives from animal welfare organisations to discuss the strategy.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 1 April (HL5869), and in the light of the requirements of the Government Efficiency Framework, published 19 July 2023, whether they will publish (1) the full disaggregated breakdown of the £45 billion estimate in annual savings and productivity benefits by department and public body; (2) the corresponding cash-releasing and non-cash-releasing savings; and (3) the estimated investment required to achieve these savings.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Details on the £45 billion figure were published as part of the State of Digital government review. The £45 billion figure referenced reflects an estimate of potential long-term annual benefits from digital transformation across the public sector, covering simplifying and automating routine tasks, shifting transactions to cheaper digital channels, and reducing fraud and error. Estimates include both cash-releasing and non-cash-releasing benefits. The estimate is designed to highlight the value at stake and not to inform specific organisational implementation through disaggregation. The Government Efficiency Framework (GEF) does not require savings estimates to be disaggregated or published. Any implementation of projects to deliver this value will require further departmental analysis and appraisal, including cost and benefit realisation in accordance with the Green Book.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the US Food and Drug Administration's publication entitled Roadmap to Reducing Animal Testing in Preclinical Safety Studies, published on 10 April 2025.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

It is not yet possible to replace all animal use due to the complexity of biological systems and regulatory requirements for their use. The Government has reviewed the FDA roadmap and is engaging with the MHRA on how to accelerate the science-led adoption of alternatives to the use of animals for drug development and testing. The Government will publish a strategy later this year that will support this ambition and accelerate the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods across the biosciences.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help develop supply chains for (a) compound semiconductors and (b) other critical semiconductor materials.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

This Government is supporting the development of supply chains for compound semiconductors and other critical semiconductor materials as part of our work to deliver the upcoming Industrial Strategy, which includes Digital and Technologies as a priority growth-driving sector. We recently secured a £250 million investment from one of the world’s largest manufacturers of semiconductors - Vishay Technologies – into the UK’s largest semiconductor facility as part of plans to develop large-scale compound semiconductor manufacturing in the UK, supported by the government’s Automotive Transformation Fund. Investments such as this will help develop UK supply chains in this high growth area of technology.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many staff in (a) his Department and (b) UKRI and the Research Councils have job titles that include the words (i) equality, (ii) diversity, (iii) inclusion, (iv) gender, (v) LGBT and (vi) race.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

(a) There are 4 staff within DSIT with one or more of the terms in their job title, the individual breakdowns are as follows - Equality: 0, Diversity: 0, Inclusion: 4, Race: 0, Gender: 0, LGBT: 0.

(b) There are 20 staff within UKRI and its research councils with one or more of the terms in their job title, the individual breakdowns are as follows: (note: some staff have multiple terms in their job title, while some staff only have one term in their job title, so the numbers below are greater than 20) - Equality: 18, Diversity: 18, Inclusion: 19, Race: 1, Gender: 0, LGBT: 0

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement the recommendations of the Independent Pornography Review to address the availability of violent online pornography.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government published the final report of the Independent Pornography Review on 27 February. The Review found violent pornography is common and easily available online. It is right that the government takes time to understand this complex, deeply important topic. A further update will be provided in due course.

The Online Safety Act requires services publishing or hosting user-generated pornographic content to prevent children from accessing it using highly effective age assurance. Extreme pornography is a priority offence under the Act, requiring services to proactively mitigate and remove this illegal content on their platforms.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to regulate artificial intelligence chatbots, particularly in regard to the generation of harmful content that may affect young people.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Generative AI services - including chatbots - are regulated by the Online Safety Act where they allow users to share content, or they search the internet to provide responses. Such services are required to assess and mitigate the risk of harm to users from illegal content and services likely to be accessed by children will need to protect them from harmful content.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support innovation in areas without mayoral devolution agreements.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

We want to support local leaders to unlock their regions’ innovation potential – ensuring everyone benefits from innovation-led growth. Regardless of whether they have a Mayor or are a local authority. That’s why UK Research and Innovation invests in innovation across the UK, including through the £316 million Strength in Places Fund and £80 million Launchpads programmes. These are bolstering clusters in areas with and without devolution agreements. UKRI has awarded £85,000 to Ultraframe UK in the Ribble Valley, to develop high quality retrofit solutions.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether Northern Ireland will receive funding from Cyber Local in 2025-26.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

As of April 2025, the way that Devolved Administrations (DAs) receive funding for cyber security has changed. Previously ringfenced cyber budgets will be absorbed into departmental baselines and provided directly to DAs in their overall HM Treasury settlement.

The revised funding arrangements further support DAs, including the Northern Ireland Executive, to make their own choices about how to champion the cyber sector in each part of the UK. DSIT will continue to engage with the Northern Ireland Executive on how to assist the cyber sector, including through the Cyber Local programme.

DSIT continues to support the successful cyber ecosystem in Northern Ireland with key investments such as the Cyber AI Hub programme at Queen’s University Belfast.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of including Northern Ireland as an eligible region for Cyber Local funding in 2025-26.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

As of April 2025, the way that Devolved Administrations (DAs) receive funding for cyber security has changed. Previously ringfenced cyber budgets will be absorbed into departmental baselines and provided directly to DAs in their overall HM Treasury settlement.

The revised funding arrangements further support DAs, including the Northern Ireland Executive, to make their own choices about how to champion the cyber sector in each part of the UK. DSIT will continue to engage with the Northern Ireland Executive on how to assist the cyber sector, including through the Cyber Local programme.

DSIT continues to support the successful cyber ecosystem in Northern Ireland with key investments such as the Cyber AI Hub programme at Queen’s University Belfast.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending Cyber Local 2025-26 to Northern Ireland.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

As of April 2025, the way that Devolved Administrations (DAs) receive funding for cyber security has changed. Previously ringfenced cyber budgets will be absorbed into departmental baselines and provided directly to DAs in their overall HM Treasury settlement.

The revised funding arrangements further support DAs, including the Northern Ireland Executive, to make their own choices about how to champion the cyber sector in each part of the UK. DSIT will continue to engage with the Northern Ireland Executive on how to assist the cyber sector, including through the Cyber Local programme.

DSIT continues to support the successful cyber ecosystem in Northern Ireland with key investments such as the Cyber AI Hub programme at Queen’s University Belfast.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help improve mobile phone coverage in rural areas.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Shared Rural Network continues to deliver 4G connectivity where there is limited or no coverage. Beyond this, our ambition is for all populated areas, including rural communities, to have higher quality standalone 5G by 2030.

We are working with Ofcom and the industry to ensure we have the right policy and regulatory framework to support investment and competition in the market.

Ofcom have written to me confirming that their improved online coverage checker will go live in the second half of June, which will better reflect people’s real experience. A copy of my letter and their letter has been deposited in the libraries of both houses.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress he has made on improving broadband connectivity in rural areas.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Project Gigabit is the government’s programme to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to UK premises not included in suppliers' commercial plans.

As of the end of March 2024, over one million premises had been upgraded to gigabit-capable broadband through government-funded programmes.

More than £2.3 billion of contracts have already been signed to connect over one million more premises with gigabit-capable broadband, predominantly in rural areas.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Data (Use and Access) Bill [Lords] on the capture of sex data in public services.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Data Bill does not alter data collection practices for public services.

Public service providers processing personal data are still subject to compliance requirements under data protection legislation.

The Government accepts the Supreme Court Ruling. We are working through this judgement carefully, including on how public services collect (and subsequently process) sex data in public services.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking with (a) broadband network infrastructure providers, (b) local authorities and (c) utility companies to prevent vouchers issued under the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme from expiring before rollout to premises is completed; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of renewing expired vouchers where works are not completed by the required deadline.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Vouchers issued under the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme are valid for 12 months from the date issued. Building Digital UK (BDUK) maintains regular contact with local authorities and broadband suppliers to discuss any issues relating to the delivery of voucher projects, and suppliers can request an extension if they are experiencing delays to their rollout due to third parties, for example as a result of wayleave application and civil works.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, for what reason funding was allocated to the Advanced Research and Invention Agency to support research into solar radiation modification techniques.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

As set out in ARIA's Framework Agreement, ARIA has unique operational freedoms, including over its research and project choice and its procedures. This independence allows ARIA to take bold steps to better understand the world we live in, and the Government supports ARIA exploring critical areas like this.

The Government is not in favour of using Solar Radiation Modification. ARIA is an independent research body, and they are conducting cautious, controlled research aimed at improving understanding of its risks and impacts. This will produce important information for decisions around the world.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps to ensure Project Gigabit includes addresses with (a) PE30 3RW, (b) PE30 3BZ and (c) PE30 3NQ postcodes.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

CityFibre is currently delivering a Project Gigabit contract across Norfolk.

However, Building Digital UK’s (BDUK) regular market reviews have indicated that premises in the PE30 3RW, PE30 3BZ and PE30 3NQ postcode areas are likely to be included in suppliers’ future commercial plans and should receive a gigabit-capable connection without the need for public subsidy.

BDUK continually monitors suppliers' commercial plans and, if it becomes apparent that these commercial plans will not deliver as expected, premises in these postcode areas may then become eligible for inclusion within the scope of Project Gigabit.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support the (a) development and (b) deployment of artificial intelligence to reduce the use of animals in scientific (i) research and (ii) testing.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”. While it is not yet possible to replace all animal use, we support the development and application of approaches that replace, reduce and refine animal use in research (the 3Rs), including via artificial intelligence. The Prime Minister launched the AI Opportunities Action Plan in January which outlined 50 actions needed to drive up the development and deployment of AI.

The Government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that artificial intelligence start-up firms founded in the United Kingdom remain based here as they scale their businesses.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government is committed to supporting the digital economy, removing barriers to inclusive economic growth, and ensuring that the UK remains one of the best places in the world for our great tech businesses to start, scale and stay.

Programmes such as the SEIS/EIS schemes and R&D Tax Credits demonstrate the UK’s commitment to supporting tech companies in thriving in the UK.

The AI Action Plan sets out our intention to support the growth ambitions of businesses across the AI sector. Initiatives include opening the AI Research Resource to a wider pool of SMEs to drive forward new AI-enabled innovations, fostering national champions within the UK startup ecosystem, and unlocking data assets for startups to access.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure sustainable energy use in AI growth zones.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government recognises the importance of continued innovation and efficiency of AI infrastructure as we deliver AI Growth Zones (AIGZs).

AIGZs will seek to shift energy demand to areas with greater capacity, reducing pressure on congested parts of the grid. DSIT is working closely with DESNZ and the NESO to align AI energy demand with future energy planning and long-term sustainability.

The AI Energy Council, co-chaired by the Secretaries of State for DSIT and DESNZ, will explore clean energy solutions for AI infrastructure, including small modular reactors and next-gen renewables, to ensure our AI ambitions align with the UK’s net zero goals.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what information his Department holds on the number of Departments that use the Redbox AI chatbot.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Redbox is available in DSIT, the Prime Minister's Office and the Cabinet Office. The Department for Business and Trade also runs its own instance of Redbox.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what plans his Department has to ensure access to gigabit broadband for (a) homes and (b) businesses not covered by (i) Project Gigabit and (ii) commercial rollout plans.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The vast majority of premises will be covered by commercial activity or Project Gigabit, but it will remain too expensive to build a gigabit capable connection to a very small proportion of premises on either a commercial or subsidised basis. The government is exploring options for the kind of support that might be required and appropriate to ensure sufficient, affordable and reliable connectivity in these cases.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many, and which, of the 39 outcomes in the National Cyber Security Centre Cyber Assessment Framework are complied with by Gov.uk One Login; and what steps they are taking to ensure Gov.uk One Login achieves all 39 outcomes.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government does not routinely comment on operational security matters. GOV.UK One Login works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to identify and mitigate risks and align to the Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF). The programme is committed to achieving CAF compliance by the end of 2025/26, in line with Government standards.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice 2016 on the number of complaints from residents about the proposed site locations of new poles and cabinets for telecommunications equipment.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is aware of public concerns about the deployment of additional broadband infrastructure, despite the guidance provided in the Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice 2016. This is why I asked operators to consider revising the Code of Practice to take into account communities’ concerns. Operators have responded by convening the Telecommunications Poles Working Group, which has now published its best practice recommendations, setting out expectations for how operators can pay due regard to community interests. The Government will continue to monitor the impact of these recommendations on public concern about the deployment of broadband infrastructure.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he has taken to prevent hostile state actors from exploiting UK research institutions; and what assessment her Department has made of potential Chinese involvement in sensitive academic collaborations.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

We have a robust approach to risk in the research sector, working to ensure that institutions are alert to security risks and able to make informed decisions when collaborating internationally, backed by the government's comprehensive regulatory powers.

We are seeking to bring a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing our science and technology relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests. Our approach remains to enhance the UK’s long-term prosperity, while never compromising on economic and national security.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when he plans to make a policy announcement on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence, following the consultation on which closed on 25 February 2025.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government received over 11,500 responses to the consultation on copyright and AI. It is now carefully considering these responses, and a Government response will be published when this work is complete. Government amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill commit the Government to publishing a full report on some of the issues covered in the consultation within 12 months of Royal Assent.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing spending on research and development.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Research and development (R&D) is key to our agenda to boost growth and improve lives by maximising the potential of science and technology. Investment in R&D underpins the innovations that help the UK boost productivity and create high-paid jobs. UK public R&D has been estimated to have an average rate of return of 40% 6 years after the investment is made. Each pound invested also leverages on average £2 of private investment in the long run.

DSIT's R&D budget has risen to £13.9bn in 2025/26, an increase of 8.5% in real terms compared to its 2024/25 budget. R&D funding beyond 2025/26 is subject to the next phase of the Spending Review, which will conclude in June.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure that cardiovascular disease is included in the upcoming Life Sciences Plan.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Life Sciences Sector Plan will focus on enabling world-class R&D, making the UK an outstanding place to start, scale, and invest in life sciences, and driving healthcare innovation and reform. This approach will cement the UK’s global leadership in life sciences and support high-growth businesses, deliver better health outcomes across various diseases – including cardiovascular disease.

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Found: Q52 Baroness Willis of Summertown: I am coming at this as a scientist myself but we have heard from DSIT

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Found: Q157 Lord Dunlop: We have received written evidence from DSIT setting out what it regards as the Government

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Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of social media on perpetuating violence against women and girls.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) in all of its forms, including when it takes place online, is a top priority for this Government. Our upcoming VAWG Strategy will set out the strategic direction and concrete actions to deliver our unprecedented ambition to halve VAWG in a decade.

In addition, the Online Safety Act 2023 requires all in-scope companies, including social media platforms, to take swift and effective action against criminal online abuse. However, social media companies must still do more to protect women and girls. The Secretary of State for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has laid before Parliament the Government’s draft Statement of Strategic Priorities for Online Safety, which aim to ensure the Online Safety Act delivers improved online safety outcomes. This includes how the Act will deliver on tackling illegal and misogynistic content to ensure increased safety online for women and girls.

We are also taking action on non-consensual intimate image abuse. The Online Safety Act inserted new offences of sharing or threatening to share intimate images into the Sexual Offences Act 2003. These new offences apply to a broader category of image and in a wider array of circumstances than the previous offences. We are going further by introducing offences of taking an intimate image without consent or reasonable belief in consent and installing equipment with the intent to take intimate images without consent or reasonable belief in consent, via the Crime and Policing Bill. We are also introducing new offences to create or request the creation of intimate images without consent or reasonable belief in consent, via the Data (Use and Access) Bill. This will criminalise the creation of deepfake intimate images without consent.

Our efforts to tackle VAWG and child sexual abuse needs to evolve to meet changes in social media and technology head on. As such, in the dawn of an increase in AI- generated child sexual abuse (CSA), we are taking forward several measures through the Crime and Policing Bill to better safeguard children and young people at risk of sexual abuse. These measures are:

• CSA image generators - This offence will criminalise AI models that have been optimised to create the most severe forms of child sexual abuse material.
• AI paedophile manuals - This measure will ensure that offenders in possession of AI paedophile manuals – which provide guidance about using AI to abuse children sexually – will be criminalised.
• Moderators and administrators of CSA sites – A specific criminal offence targeting offenders who run sites dedicated to child sexual abuse. On these sites, offenders share child sexual abuse material (CSAM) content, or advice on how to groom children.
• CSAM at the Border - This measure will give Border Force officers the power to compel individuals reasonably suspected of posing a sexual risk to children to unlock their digital devices for inspection.

This Government is committed to tackling VAWG and CSAM and will remain agile to the threats and act accordingly.

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