Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the AI skills gap, particularly regarding universities.

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

Reducing the AI skills gap is critical for increasing the UK’s productivity and delivering long-term growth. DSIT regularly reviews the status of the UK’s AI labour market and has commissioned Gardiner & Theobald LLP to conduct a survey of the labour market, published later this year. We are also working with DfE and Skills England to assess the AI skills gap and map pathways to fill it.

As set out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, government will further address the AI skills gap by working with universities to increase the number of AI courses, expanding educational pathways into AI, and establishing a prestigious AI talent scholarship.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage social media and search platforms to go beyond the requirements of the Online Safety Act 2023 in reducing access to harmful suicide and self-harm content.

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

The government engages regularly with social media and search services and is clear that they should be taking action now to make their services safe for users.

Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services must prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide and self-harm content, and children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instructions for suicide and self-harm.

The government are committed to continuing to engage with those with lived experience and keeping online safety policy under review and will take whatever steps are needed to protect the public.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that people with lived experience of self-harm and suicide are meaningfully involved in the implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023.

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

The government engages regularly with social media and search services and is clear that they should be taking action now to make their services safe for users.

Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services must prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide and self-harm content, and children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instructions for suicide and self-harm.

The government are committed to continuing to engage with those with lived experience and keeping online safety policy under review and will take whatever steps are needed to protect the public.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to deliver the recommendations outlined in the Pro-innovation Regulation of Technologies Review: Digital Technologies policy paper, published on 15 March 2023.

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

The Pro-innovation Regulation of Technologies Digital Technologies Review published by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser set out 11 recommendations to support the UK’s regulatory approach to AI, facilitate the Government’s public services transformation programme through data access, and focus regulator efforts on innovation in transport, cyber security and space. The Government has already made progress, launching the AI and Digital Hub in April 2024 and gaining Royal Assent for the Automated Vehicles Bill in May 2024.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what criteria they will use to assess where to implement new AI Growth Zones.

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

The Government will lay out the formal selection process in spring. Local and regional authorities along with industry will be able to nominate themselves to host an AI Growth Zone (AIGZs).

AIGZs will be designed to ensure AI infrastructure developers have access to the power they need to rapidly scale and, are supported via streamlined planning processes.

On Monday 10 February, local and regional authorities, along with industry, were invited to come forward with potential sites suitable for hosting AI infrastructure as an early expression of interest.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how different jurisdictions' approaches to text and data mining have affected their AI sector growth rates.

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

Copyright law is territorial. Other jurisdictions vary in how they handle text and data mining, and the impact on AI sector growth is challenging to assess.

The Government published a consultation on Copyright and AI in December 2024. This seeks views on stakeholders’ experience of approaches internationally. The consultation closes on 25 February

Government will continue to talk to our international partners, as AI is an area of shared interest and activity.

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 incentivise R&D investment in the United Kingdom.

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

R&D investment in the UK is 2.8% of GDP, ahead of the OECD average of 2.7%. To further incentivise R&D investment, we are supporting innovators with a record £20.4 billion in R&D spending for 2025/26, which on average leverages £2 of private R&D investment for every pound of public investment. The UK is also a leader in attracting international R&D investment, with the second highest number of R&D inward investment projects in Europe. We are backing high-growth firms through reforms to the British Business Bank and pensions to unlock £80 billion of investment. Our generous R&D tax relief rates are projected to support £56 billion of business R&D expenditure annually by 2029-30.

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 National Security Online Information Team's policies on the collection of personal data on people's ability to establish what information the Government holds about them.

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

DSIT’s National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT) does not actively collect personal data. However, it may receive or process some personal data in the course of its work and follows the requirements of UK GDPR and any advice or guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office. NSOIT has published privacy notices on Gov.uk which set out how personal data may be processed. These notices include a section explaining the public’s data protection rights and how to establish if NSOIT does hold any individual data.

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 that the National Security Online Information Team's social media monitoring work can be scrutinised by (a) Parliament and (b) the public.

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

DSIT ministers remain accountable to parliament and routinely answer questions from parliamentarians and select committees, including on the work of the National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT).

The department continues to respond to correspondence, Freedom of Information Act requests and Subject Access Requests from parliamentarians and members of the public. NSOIT has also published privacy notices which are accessible to the public on Gov.uk

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government when the 'Small but Risky' taskforce will sit; and how the group will address the risk posed by dangerous online platforms.

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

The Online Safety Act’s illegal content and, where relevant, child safety duties will apply to services of all sizes. In September 2024, a public exchange of letters between the Secretary of State and Ofcom’s CEO provided more information about the supervision taskforce. The taskforce is developing and delivering a workplan focusing on high priority themes (such as terror, hate and offences against women and girls) in small but risky services. Should such services choose not to engage and there is evidence of non-compliance, Ofcom will undertake enforcement action.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to address the risks posed by small, high-risk online platforms.

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

The Online Safety Act’s illegal content and, where relevant, child safety duties will apply to services of all sizes. In September 2024, a public exchange of letters between the Secretary of State and Ofcom’s CEO provided more information about the supervision taskforce. The taskforce is developing and delivering a workplan focusing on high priority themes (such as terror, hate and offences against women and girls) in small but risky services. Should such services choose not to engage and there is evidence of non-compliance, Ofcom will undertake enforcement action.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what estimate his Department has made of the total level of funding allocated by the Medical Research Council into specific research on the (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of lobular breast cancer in each of the last five years.

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

The Government does not ringfence funding for specific cancers. DSIT invests approximately £200 million into cancer research annually via UK Research and Innovation, including the Medical Research Council (MRC). The average annual funding awarded by UKRI to breast cancer research (including diagnosis and treatment) between 2018 and 2022 was approximately £10 million. The MRC invests approximately £125 million into cancer annually. DHSC spent £121.8 million in 2022/23 on cancer research via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR research infrastructure funding supports Biomedical Research Centres and the NIHR Research Delivery Network, which has enabled the delivery of 10 lobular breast cancer studies.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what evidence his Department is gathering on the impact of social media interfaces on the mental wellbeing of users.

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

We recognise the need for more research and evidence to improve our understanding of people’s experiences online.

In November 2024, DSIT announced a feasibility study to further understand the impact of social media on children.

The study will review existing evidence and assess which research methods will be most effective in determining the causal effect of social media on children’s developmental outcomes. The study will conclude in May 2025.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when the Small but Risky taskforce will meet; and how the group will tackle the risk posed by dangerous online platforms.

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

In September 2024, a public exchange of letters between the Secretary of State and Ofcom’s CEO outlined information about the taskforce: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/about-ofcom/public-correspondence/2024/letter-from-dame-melanie-dawes-to-the-secretary-of-state-11-september-2024.pdf?v=380026. The taskforce is a dedicated supervision team within Ofcom which is developing and delivering a workplan, focusing on high priority themes (such as terror, hate and offences against women and girls) on small but risky services. Such services will be regulated by the illegal content and child safety duties of the Act. If there is evidence of non-compliance Ofcom will undertake enforcement action.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Government is taking steps to encourage (a) social media and (b) search platforms to go beyond the requirements of the Online Safety Act 2023 in reducing access to harmful suicide and self-harm content.

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

The government engages regularly with social media and search services and is clear that they should be taking action now to make their services safe for users.

Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services must prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide and self-harm content, and children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instructions for suicide and self-harm.

The government are committed to continuing to engage with those with lived experience and keeping online safety policy under review and will take whatever steps are needed to protect the public.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps the Government is taking to ensure people with lived experience of (a) self harm and (b) suicide are involved in the implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023.

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

The government engages regularly with social media and search services and is clear that they should be taking action now to make their services safe for users.

Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services must prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide and self-harm content, and children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instructions for suicide and self-harm.

The government are committed to continuing to engage with those with lived experience and keeping online safety policy under review and will take whatever steps are needed to protect the public.

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 increase awareness of the provisions of the Online Safety Act 2023 to help tackle suicide and self-harm content on smaller online platforms.

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

The Online Safety Act will require in-scope user-to-user and search services – regardless of their size or reach – to prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide and self-harm content, and children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instructions for suicide and self-harm.

In September 2024, the Secretary of State wrote to Ofcom to ask them about their plans to regulate ‘small but risky’ services. Ofcom have set up a designated taskforce to supervise these services. Ofcom will undertake enforcement action against these services if they do not comply with the Act’s duties. Ofcom also has a programme of outreach work to help services understand their new duties.

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 social media algorithms on recent trends in the level of misogynistic content targeted at (a) boys and (b) young men.

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

The Online Safety Act (OSA) places safety duties on in-scope user-to-user and search services. Services must employ age-appropriate measures to protect children from legal abusive and hateful misogynistic content. Additionally, the largest services (category 1) will need to remove misogynistic content where it is prohibited in their terms of service.

Ofcom is the independent regulator for online safety and its draft codes include steps regarding algorithm design and operation. Ofcom will keep its codes under review.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of that low-cost, open source AI models could be used to launch the risk of malicious attacks on UK security.

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

The Government has established a Central AI Risk Function (CAIRF), which brings together policymakers and AI experts with a mission to continuously identify, assess and prepare for AI associated risks.

CAIRF develops and maintains the UK Government’s AI Risk Register. The register is actively maintained by CAIRF to identify individual risks associated with AI that could impact the UK spanning national security, the economy and society.

In addition, the AI Security Institute's (AISI) work is part of this Government's efforts to tackle security threats from AI. AISI evaluates both closed and open-sourced AI models to assess the risks AI poses to security and public safety.

We are also mindful that open source can boost transparency and support AI safety research. The UK Government will carefully balance these important benefits alongside risks as it develops its regulatory approach.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made on the role of online advertising in financing criminal content online, and whether they have proposals to deal with the issue.

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

The Government continually assesses the impact of online services’ activities on UK citizens.

The Online Safety Act establishes a new regulatory regime for online services including platforms and search engines. It gives these services duties to tackle illegal content and protect their users from harm. Ofcom is the regulator for this regime. It has strong enforcement powers if platforms fail to comply. These powers include business disruption measures with court approval. Through these powers, third-party service providers can be required to withdraw services from a non-compliant platform.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the value of advertising revenue to websites hosting illegal content, as set out in the recent report by Adalytics.

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

The government continually assesses the impact of online services’ activities on UK citizens from a wide range of sources.

The Online Safety Act establishes a new regulatory regime for online services including platforms and search engines. It gives these services duties to tackle illegal content and protect children from harmful content. Ofcom is the regulator for this regime. It has strong enforcement powers if platforms fail to comply. These include business disruption measures. Through these powers, third-party service providers can be required, with court approval, to withdraw services from a non-compliant platform. For example, this could include a requirement on advertising services to withdraw from a particular non-compliant platform.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many members of staff Ofcom employs in each directorate.

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

This information is set out in Ofcom's Annual Reports and Accounts 2023-24.

Ofcom employs 1,483 employees (full time equivalents). Non-Executive Members of the Ofcom Board, Content Board, Advisory Committees and employees seconded to Ofcom are excluded from employee numbers.

The breakdown for each Directorate is as follows:

Broadcasting and Media Group - 118

Networks and Communications Group - 146

Spectrum Group - 242

Online Safety Group - 189

Economics and Analytics Group - 117

Legal Group - 119

Strategy and Research Group - 157

Corporate Group - 363

Central – 31

The Corporate Group includes Finance, HR, the Contact Centre, ICT, Public Policy and Nations teams, Communications, Governance and Accountability, and Data and Information.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk that DeepSeek poses to UK national security.

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

The AI Security Institute (AISI) tests the capabilities of advanced AI systems, wherever they come from, and whether open or closed, to assess any risks they may pose to our security.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to his policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with the Advanced Research and Invention Agency on the UK’s approach to the EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since September 2024.

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

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper.

Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published.

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

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper.

Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published.

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

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper.

Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with the Economic and Social Research Council on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published.

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

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper.

Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with the Arts and Humanities Research Council on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published.

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

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper.

Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with the Medical Research Council on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published.

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

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper.

Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with the Natural Environment Research Council on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published.

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

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper.

Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with businesses on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published, broken down by business.

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

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper.

Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

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 commercialisation of (a) university research and (b) spinouts in the tech sector.

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

Support for university commercialisation is at its highest level ever. The Higher Education Innovation Fund, which supports knowledge exchange between universities and the wider world, is set at £280 million for the 2024-25 academic year. To support spinouts, the Government is implementing the recommendations of the Independent Review of University Spin-outs. 52 universities have signed up to the review’s recommendations on improving licensing and equity stakes, including taking 10% or less equity for software spin-outs. UKRI has launched a £40m proof-of-concept fund to support researchers develop ideas ahead of spinning out. Over the last 2 years, Innovate UK has awarded £5.2bn funding to more than 7000 businesses, of which 86% were SMEs.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with universities on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published, broken down by each university.

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

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper.

Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with Research England on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published.

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

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper.

Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with Innovate UK on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published.

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

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper.

Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with UK Research and Innovation on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published.

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

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper.

Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with the Science and Technology Facilities Council on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published.

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

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper.

Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

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 rolling out full-fibre broadband in Laughton, East Sussex; and what steps he is taking to support its delivery.

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

Having the fastest, most reliable broadband means households no longer having to battle over bandwidth and gives people the freedom to live and work more flexibly. This is why we are committed to the rollout of fast, reliable broadband to all parts of the UK.

As part of Project Gigabit, CityFibre is delivering a contract to bring gigabit-capable broadband to premises across Sussex, including in Laughton, that would otherwise not be reached by suppliers’ commercial rollout.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Government backs UK R&D with record £20.4 billion investment at Autumn Budget, published on 31 October 2024, when he plans to provide (a) charities, (b) businesses and (c) universities with further information on the availability of this funding.

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

The Autumn Budget set out the government’s funding plans and departmental allocations for R&D in 2025/26, with an overall R&D budget of £20.4 billion. Of this, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology was allocated £13.9 billion for 2025/26. Further details on how this funding will be allocated across DSIT priorities and partner organisations will be announced in due course, before the start of the financial year.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what data his Department holds on the numbers of (a) residential customers and (b) business customers that have moved from a PSTN telephone connection to a VOIP connection (i) when their contract expired (II) at the scheduled PSTN switch-off for their area (iii) for any reason in the last 12 months.

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

The Department does not hold this specific information on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) migration to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

Ofcom’s Connected Nations (2024) report (published 5 December 2024) states: “In the year to July 2024, 1.8 million residential customers who previously had a PSTN line migrated to a VoIP service. 53% (970,000 lines) of these were as a result of a provider-led migration, while the remaining 47% (870,000 lines) were as a result of customer-led migrations.”

The Department separately holds some information on the number of remaining PSTN lines and the number of migrations per quarter for the larger communications providers. As of December 2024, there were circa 6.5 million active PSTN lines remaining.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2024 to Question 11001 on Animal Experiments: Public Consultation, what progress his Department has made on consulting with civil society and animal protection organisations.

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 has been consulting civil society as this process unfolds. This includes attending meetings with animal protection organisations and considering documentation sent by such organisations to the Government. 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 the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the risks posed by space debris to UK (a) satellites and (b) other space assets.

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

The government is committed to mitigating the risk from space debris through arange of actions, including regulatory reform, international collaboration on standards and best practice, and developing capabilities to prevent, track or remove space debris. The government recently awarded £4.7 million to Astroscale and ClearSpace to understand the risks and costs of an active debris removal mission. The UK also launched the National Space Operations Centre in May 2024, combining civil and military space domain awareness and protection capabilities. This includes uncontrolled re-entry early warning, fragmentation monitoring, in-space collision avoidance protection services and support to HMG and international partners.

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 (a) help increase the UK's international role in AI innovation and (b) protect creative industries from the potential impacts of AI.

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

We are already a global leader in AI. We are the third-largest AI market in the world, and we are home to world-renowned AI companies.

We are committed to building a thriving AI ecosystem that can scale and win globally. As outlined in the AI Opportunities Action Plan launched by the Prime Minister earlier this year, we will appoint AI sector champions in key industries, including the creative industries, to explore and encourage AI innovation.

The Government published a consultation on copyright and AI in December 2024, seeking views on a package of measures, which include a requirement for AI model developers to be more transparent about how they obtain their training material.

We welcome the significant engagement from across the creative and AI sectors on this important consultation and are carefully reviewing all responses to ensure any proposals taken forward properly support both – delivering a solution which will allow them to thrive.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February to Question 29747 on AstraZeneca, if he will place a copy of the requested letter in the House of Commons Library.

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

Due to commercial confidentiality considerations, we are unable to place the requested letter in the House of Commons Library. As with any application for Government grant funding of this nature, all cases undergo rigorous due diligence, which assesses whether the investment represents good value for money for the taxpayer.

The Government remains committed to improving the business environment for Life Sciences companies. We continue to engage positively with AstraZeneca on the new Industrial Strategy and Life Sciences Sector Plan, due to be published in late Spring. This will set out a comprehensive plan of how the Government intends to drive growth in the sector.

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 support (a) AI development and (b) machine learning skills in the workforce.

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

Lifelong learning and development are key to ensuring everyone can prosper in an increasingly technology-driven world.

The AI Opportunities Action Plan outlines the steps the UK will take to build a strong, diverse talent pipeline, realising AI benefits across the economy. Once established, Skills England will work with government, the Industrial Skills Council, businesses, training partners, and unions, to assess AI skills needs and map pathways to address them.

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 consumers being required to move to a VOIP connection for a new contract on market competition.

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

The government is committed to supporting a pro-competition environment in the broadband sector.

The transition to VOIP is being led by industry. The Department is engaging with Ofcom to ensure that the long-term process does not have an adverse impact on wholesale competition.

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 potential levels of (a) financial and (b) carbon savings from (i) estate and (ii) digital budgets through consolidation of disparate legacy IT systems located at (A) fewer, (B) more energy efficient and (C) AI-enabled data centres.

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

Government is looking to understand what Legacy IT systems it currently has, and how to best prioritise and mitigate the risks they carry. By their nature, Legacy IT often underpins complex and critical services that have unique requirements, informing how they need to be treated.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has recently published the AI Opportunities Action Plan and A blueprint for modern digital government. This describes how the Government will work across Government and the wider public sector to ensure digital services - including legacy IT - are delivered efficiently and take advantage of AI.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will update the 2014 Digital Inclusion Strategy to promote the redistribution of digital devices, in the context of tackling exclusion and reducing e-waste.

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

Government announced on 26 February in our Digital Inclusion Action Plan a device donation pilot. We are working with the Digital Poverty Alliance to refurbish end-of-life laptops from DSIT, DESNZ and DBT and distribute them to those who need them most. We are ensuring no unsuitable devices are donated but instead are stripped for parts and recycled according to Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) guidelines.

We are also working with industry on a device donation charter to encourage more organisations to set up device donation schemes. We hope to publish the charter in Spring 2025.

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 ensure adequate safeguards are in place for (a) older and (b) vulnerable people during the transition from the Public Switched Telephone Network to digital landlines.

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

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

A definition of vulnerable customers who may require additional support in the context of the digital switchover was published in November 2024. It includes those who are telecare users and those dependent on their landline. Any customer, including the elderly, can also self-identify as requiring additional support.

Communication providers and network operators signed voluntary charters in December 2023 and March 2024, committing to protect vulnerable consumers during the PSTN migration. On 18 November 2024, the major communication providers agreed to adhere to further safeguards set out in the non-voluntary migrations checklist before restarting non-voluntary migration of customers.

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 standardise data security protocols for digital device donation, in the context of tackling digital exclusion and reducing e-waste.

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

The Government announced a device donation pilot on the 26^th February, running to August 2025. We will be working with Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) to refurbish end-of-life laptops from DSIT, DESNZ and DBT and distribute them to those who need them most.

The Government uses an accredited partner with ADISA certification to sanitise devices, meaning each is wiped securely before being collected.

DPA conducts additional verification for recipients of devices, including offering Data Erasure and Data Destruction Reports for processed devices.

We are looking into solutions for standardising protocols for disposal of data to encourage device donation by industry.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps the Government is taking to ensure AI training models are subject to existing copyright laws; and what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed exemption for text and data mining on (a) artists, (b) small businesses and (c) other creative industries.

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

Copying protected material in the UK will infringe copyright unless it is licensed, or an exception to copyright applies.

The Government published a consultation on Copyright and AI in December 2024 seeking views on proposals for a new regulatory model for text and data mining.

An initial assessment of the options under consideration and their impacts can be found in the summary assessment published alongside the consultation. The Government intends to update its assessment in light of evidence received through the consultation process.

The consultation closed on 25 February and the Government will respond in due course.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2024 to Question 11001 on Animal Experiments: Public Consultation, whether his Department plans to publish the names of the organisations it consults with.

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

As part of the Labour Manifesto’s commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, the government has been consulting civil society as this process unfolds. This includes attending meetings with and considering documentation sent by animal protection organisations. The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year which will consider these discussions. However, the strategy will not be publishing the specific names of the organisations it consults with.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to introduce (a) incentives and (b) funding mechanisms to encourage businesses and public sector organisations to comply with strengthened cybersecurity requirements under the forthcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill.

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

The upcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will strengthen our defences and ensure that more essential and digital services are protected than ever.

The Bill will require regulated entities to take proportionate steps to address vulnerabilities in our digital economy and protect our essential services against cyber attacks. We will work closely with industry, public sector organisations and regulators to support organisations in complying with their new obligations under the Bill.

By safeguarding our nation's essential services and digital infrastructure, we will create a stable environment in which investment and innovation can thrive.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make it his policy to conduct a lessons learned review following the negotiations with AstraZeneca for investment in Speke.

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

AstraZeneca’s decision not to invest in Speke is deeply disappointing. The Government regularly reviews it’s grant process and routinely seeks applicant feedback. The Government also continues to engage positively with AstraZeneca, including on the new Industrial Strategy and Life Sciences Sector Plan, due to be published in late Spring. This will set out a comprehensive plan of how the Government intends to drive growth in the sector. Support includes the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund, which will allocate up to £520 million to deliver economic growth and build health resilience.

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 ensure that the public sector is adequately protected under the forthcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, and whether he plans to extend regulatory requirements to public sector organisations.

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

The forthcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will strengthen the UK’s existing cyber regulatory framework (the Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018) by protecting more digital and essential services, putting regulators on a stronger footing, and increasing reporting requirements.

The NIS Regulations covers five sectors (transport, energy, drinking water, health, digital infrastructure) and some digital services (online marketplaces, online search engines, cloud computing services). Where a public body delivers these services, such as NHS Trusts, they are in scope of the NIS Regulations.

The Bill will include powers that will enable more services and sectors to be brought into scope of regulation in the future, where this is considered necessary to address emerging risks.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether there are any requirements for civil servants to book a desk in advance in order to attend the office in person in each of (a) their Department's office workplaces and (b) the arm’s length bodies of their Department.

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

Civil servants who work in the Department’s office locations are asked to book a space to work from the office. In 16 buildings this is a booking for a specific desk, and in 3 buildings it is for an unspecified working space on a particular floor within the building.

Desk booking services for arm’s-length bodies within the Department are not centrally held, and would come at disproportionate cost to the Department in producing this information.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 29596 on Artificial Intelligence: Safety, under which new legislation he plans to criminalise possessing, creating or distributing AI tools designed to generate harmful content.

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

We are committed to giving law enforcement agencies the powers needed to combat child sexual abuse. That is why we have introduced an offence in the Crime and Policing Bill to criminalise AI models which have been optimised to create child sexual abuse material.

UK law is clear – creating, possessing, or distributing child sexual abuse images, including those that are AI generated, is already illegal. This world leading offence makes it a crime to possess, adapt, supply or offer to supply an AI model that has been fine-tuned by offenders to create the most severe forms of child sexual abuse material.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether it is his policy to allow the Research Excellence Framework people, culture and environment pilot to go forward.

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

Research England has notified the Department about their plans for developing the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029, which includes the People, Culture, and Environment pilot. This pilot aims to assess the feasibility and practicality of incorporating this element into the REF. The findings will guide future developments of the REF. Final decisions on the REF's structure will be made after the pilot concludes and further engagement with the sector.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when Research England informed his Department of their plans for the (a) Research Excellence Framework 2029 and (b) people, culture and environment pilot.

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

Research England has notified the Department about their plans for developing the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029, which includes the People, Culture, and Environment pilot. This pilot aims to assess the feasibility and practicality of incorporating this element into the REF. The findings will guide future developments of the REF. Final decisions on the REF's structure will be made after the pilot concludes and further engagement with the sector.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to accept Research England’s proposed changes to the research excellence framework.

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

Research England has notified the Department about their plans for developing the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029, which includes the People, Culture, and Environment pilot. This pilot aims to assess the feasibility and practicality of incorporating this element into the REF. The findings will guide future developments of the REF. Final decisions on the REF's structure will be made after the pilot concludes and further engagement with the sector.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Bertin Review will consider the differences between the online and offline regulation of pornographic content.

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

The Independent Pornography Review assessed the effectiveness of current pornography legislation, regulation and enforcement. This included considering the difference in regulation for pornography online versus ‘offline’.

The Review has now concluded, and the report has been published. It is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/creating-a-safer-world-the-challenge-of-regulating-online-pornography.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will implement stronger penalties for creating non-consensual deepfake content.

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

Government is committed to tackling the harm posed by the creation of non-consensual intimate images. We are bringing forward legislation to criminalise this behaviour in the Data (Use and Access) Bill. The new legislation will ensure that offenders face the appropriate punishments for this atrocious harm.

The sharing of or threatening to share a deepfake intimate image without consent is already a criminal offence under the Online Safety Act and was designated as a priority offence in November 2024. Companies in scope of the Act’s illegal safety duties will be required to proactively tackle this type of content, preventing its proliferation online.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with his American counterpart on the security provisions in place for UK citizens that have data held by US Government Departments, in the context of recent steps taken by the US Department of Government Efficiency to access personal data.

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

The UK-US special relationship continues to be critical for our security, growth and prosperity, as reiterated by the Prime Minister and President during the recent visit. Under the UK data protection regime, organisations must ensure there are appropriate safeguards in place when sending UK personal data internationally.

The UK has an adequacy decision for certain transfers to the US and robustly monitors any developments that could affect that decision. Where an adequacy decision cannot be relied upon, UK organisations must ensure alternative safeguards are in place, such as contractual clauses, in accordance with Article 46 of the UK GDPR.

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 implications for his policies of the work produced by the University of Manchester’s Unit M initiative.

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

Officials from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology have met the University of Manchester to understand how its new Unit M functions, and intends to help the university to support the region’s innovation economy. We look forward to learning from its insights as it delivers its activities.

This is an example of how universities are working collaboratively within their regions to deliver economic growth, supporting the government’s mission to kickstart the economy. The importance of developing regional innovation ecosystems in this way is why we have extended the Innovation Accelerator pilot programme into 2025/26.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to meet with representatives from civil society to discuss the Government’s strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods to the use of animals in science prior to it being published later this year.

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

The Government is committed to supporting the use of alternative methods to the use of animals in science and 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 has been and will continue to consult civil society as this process unfolds.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions his Department has had with representatives from civil society on 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 has been consulting civil society as this process unfolds. This includes attending meetings with animal protection organisations and considering documentation sent by such organisations to the Government.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the forthcoming strategy on phasing out animal testing will include all areas of science and regulatory testing, including chemicals, medicines, and cosmetics; and if he will publish a list of the specific areas under review.

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 in basic, applied, translational and regulatory research and testing later this year. It will cover the whole range of uses of animals in science, including chemicals, medicines and cosmetics; each sector is at a different stage in its journey to applying alternative methods, which the strategy will take into account.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

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

The Department does not offer paid time off work specifically for kinship care. However, the Department does offer unpaid carer’s leave and both paid and unpaid special leave for employees who have caring responsibilities for dependants, either family or friends, which can include kinship care.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many staff his Department has seconded from Palantir since July 2024.

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

Since July 2024, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has had no secondees from Palantir.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will that ensure Ofcom prioritises user verification in its Illegal Content Codes of Practice.

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

Ofcom is the independent regulator for the Online Safety Act and it decides what measures go into its codes of practice. It issued its first codes of practice for the illegal content duties in December. These take effect on platforms in March. They will significantly improve online safety and incorporate measures in a wide range of areas, including user access. Ofcom will develop the codes iteratively and will launch a consultation in spring 2025 on further measures. In addition, Ofcom will issue its child safety codes of practice in the summer, and these will include age assurance measures.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department is using AI software in responding to written parliamentary questions.

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

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology does not have a specific policy on the use of AI for responding to written parliamentary questions. However, staff do have access to AI software tools to support the drafting process. All responses are reviewed by policy officials to ensure accuracy and consistency with government policy, and are signed off by Ministers.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many people are currently employed in the AI technology sector across the UK.

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

We are committed to building an AI sector that can scale and win globally, ensuring AI companies want to call the UK home. Our 2024 AI Sector Study found that the UK AI sector employs over 64,000 people in the UK, up from just over 50,000 people in 2022, an increase of 29%.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much funding his Department plans to allocate to scientific research projects in Antarctica.

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

The British Antarctic Survey’s current allocation from UK Research and Innovation’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is £116 million for 2024/25.

DSIT's R&D budget is rising to £13.9 billion for the 2025/26 financial year. The Department will announce further details on the allocation of the budget in 2025/26 in due course. Last July, the Chancellor launched a multi-year spending review, which will conclude in June 2025, and will allow government to set out its spending plans for science and technology investment over the longer-term.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much funding his Department allocated to the British Antarctic Survey in the 2024-25 financial year.

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

The British Antarctic Survey’s current allocation from UK Research and Innovation’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is £116 million for 2024/25.

DSIT's R&D budget is rising to £13.9 billion for the 2025/26 financial year. The Department will announce further details on the allocation of the budget in 2025/26 in due course. Last July, the Chancellor launched a multi-year spending review, which will conclude in June 2025, and will allow government to set out its spending plans for science and technology investment over the longer-term.

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 (a) cyberbullying, (b) harassment by (i) fake and (ii) anonymous accounts and (c) other online harms on the economy.

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

In October 2024, DSIT published an assessment of the social impact of some quantified harms including cyberstalking, hate crime, fraud facilitated by user generated content, and cyberbullying, as part of the Online Safety Act enactment impact assessment - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-safety-act-enactment-impact-assessment#:~:text=The%20assessment%20estimates%20the%20Online,final%20stage%20Bill%20impact%20assessment.

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 accelerate the implementation of user identity verification measures under the Online Safety Act 2023.

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

The government is committed to ensuring the Online Safety Act is implemented as quickly as possible. Ofcom is taking a phased approach, focussing on the illegal and child safety duties first, as these have the broadest protections.

Phase three of the programme focuses on additional duties for categorised services, which includes those relating to user verification. Ofcom intends to publish the register of categorised services this Summer. Ofcom will publish draft proposals regarding additional duties on categorised services in early 2026.

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 adequacy of the UK copyright framework in tackling AI-generated content that infringes upon copyright protections.

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

AI generated content will infringe copyright in the UK if it reproduces a substantial part of a protected work unless a copyright exception applies.

The Government’s consultation on Copyright and AI, which closed on 25^th February, covered a range of topics including copyright enforcement for infringing AI outputs.

Our priority now is to review the evidence from the consultation which will inform the Government response

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 that the responsibility for preventing intellectual property infringement by AI systems falls to AI companies rather than creators.

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

The Government’s consultation on Copyright and AI, which sought views on proposals for a new regulatory model for text and data mining, has closed. Our priority now is to review the evidence from the consultation which will inform the Government response.

Copying material protected by copyright in the UK remains an infringement unless it is licensed or an exception to copyright applies.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether Ministers have disappearing messages in use on WhatsApp for communication with (a) private offices, (b) departmental officials and (c) other communications related to departmental business.

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

DSIT Ministers use Whatsapp in line with government and departmental policies. This may, occasionally, include the use of disappearing messages where this is in line with our obligations to maintain good recordkeeping and transparency responsibilities.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the UK Space Agency will renew funding to Goonhilly Earth Station for its bilateral pilot with the US when that funding runs out in March.

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

The current contract between the UK Space Agency and Goonhilly Earth Station is worth up to £2 million this financial year (24/25) which includes £1.4million of funding towards the Deep Space Monitoring contract for Goonhilly to work with twelve unique missions operated by international partners. This is already delivering on the benefits of expanding existing UK capabilities, unlocking new and emerging markets and supporting the growing lunar economy. Decisions on future spend for Goonhilly Earth Station for its bilateral pilot with the US are being considered as part of the 2025 spending review.

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 (a) the West Midlands Combined Authority and (b) Birmingham city council on the AI Growth Zones scheme.

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

The government recognises the critical role of AI infrastructure in supporting advanced AI technologies. The AI Opportunities Action Plan outlines how the UK can build the cutting-edge compute infrastructure needed to lead in AI development and deployment, securing long-term economic growth and staying at the forefront of AI innovation.

We are interested in partnering with local and regional authorities and devolved administrations to establish AI Growth Zones, ensuring substantial regional and national benefits, such as upskilling and employment opportunities, are felt across the country.

On Monday 10 February, local and regional authorities, along with industry, were invited to come forward with potential sites suitable for hosting AI infrastructure as an early expression of interest. This was followed by a discussion about towns in the Birmingham area.

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 migration of analogue phone lines to digital voice over internet protocol on elderly people in the Isle of Wight East constituency.

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

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.

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 those who are telecare users and those dependent on their landline. Any customer, including the elderly, can also self-identify as requiring additional support.

Communication providers and network operators signed voluntary charters in December 2023 and March 2024, committing to protect vulnerable consumers during the PSTN switch-off. On 18 November 2024, the major communication providers agreed to adhere to further safeguards set out in the non-voluntary migrations checklist before restarting non-voluntary migration of customers.

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 (a) monitor and (b) enforce compliance with the checklist for communication providers; and how customers will be informed of their rights and the safeguards in place during the migration to Voice over Internet Protocol.

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

The PSTN switch-off is an industry-led process. As per the checklist the Government is meeting with communications providers before they restart non-voluntary migrations to ensure they are meeting the checklist commitments. The Government is engaging regularly with the signatories of the PSTN Charter to monitor their PSTN switch-off plans and progress and compliance with the checklist.

The Government and Ofcom are engaging regularly with the industry to monitor their plans for raising awareness on the PSTN switch-off. Ofcom has placed an obligation on communications providers to engage in effective communication with customers about any change to their service.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what representations his Department has received on the impact of BTs move from copper wire landlines to mobile voice systems for rural communities.

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

The transition from the old analogue landline network, also known as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), to new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which delivers voice calls over an internet connection, is industry led. Importantly, landlines are not being withdrawn, but their underlying technology is changing from PSTN to VoIP.

VoIP is more resistant to severe weather as the cables used are waterproof, and less prone to damage during a storm or other severe weather events. The PSTN lines are often in the air and fail during storm weather.

The Government has received a number of representations from MPs enquiring about the steps been taken to improve mobile connectivity in rural areas because of concerns over the impact of the PSTN switch-off. As well as maintaining our commitment to our target of 95% of the UK geography being covered by 4G, our ambition is for all populated areas, including rural communities, to have higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030.

The Government is engaging regularly with the telecoms industry to ensure consumers and sectors, including rural businesses, are protected and prepared for the upgrade process throughout the UK. 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 those who are telecare users and those dependent on their landline, including in rural communities.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many social media accounts his Department operates; and how much his Department spent on social media (a) subscriptions and (b) advertisements on each social media platform in each of the last three years.

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

The Department is responsible for operating a total of 18 social media accounts. This includes a number of accounts currently under review and operated by the Government Digital Service, which recently became a part of the department.

The Department has spent £201.60 on (a) subscriptions – two payments of £100.80 in 2023 and 2024.

To date, the Department has spent £450,901.04 on (b) social media advertisements.

The Department spent £386,615.04 on LinkedIn and £64,286.00 on META in the financial year 24/25.

In addition, the Department has a shared HR function with DESNZ which has a contractual arrangement with LinkedIn Hiring Solutions for the period June 2023 to June 2025, for the amount of £425,123.31.

The Department holds no data prior to the financial year 23/24 due to DSIT only being formed in February 2023.

The Government communicates across a range of media channels in order to reach its target audience effectively. Channels are selected based on whether they will reach the intended audience on a specific issue to have the most impact.

Social media is an essential part of government communications and is used to inform the public directly about matters which may affect their lives or interests. The Government remains committed to scrutiny, transparency and best value for taxpayer money.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of BTs move from copper wire landlines to mobile voice systems on weather resilience.

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

The transition from the old analogue landline network, also known as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), to new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which delivers voice calls over an internet connection, is industry led. Importantly, landlines are not being withdrawn, but their underlying technology is changing from PSTN to VoIP.

VoIP is more resistant to severe weather as the cables used are waterproof, and less prone to damage during a storm or other severe weather events. The PSTN lines are often in the air and fail during storm weather.

The Government has received a number of representations from MPs enquiring about the steps been taken to improve mobile connectivity in rural areas because of concerns over the impact of the PSTN switch-off. As well as maintaining our commitment to our target of 95% of the UK geography being covered by 4G, our ambition is for all populated areas, including rural communities, to have higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030.

The Government is engaging regularly with the telecoms industry to ensure consumers and sectors, including rural businesses, are protected and prepared for the upgrade process throughout the UK. 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 those who are telecare users and those dependent on their landline, including in rural communities.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of BTs move from copper wire landlines to mobile voice systems on rural businesses.

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

The transition from the old analogue landline network, also known as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), to new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which delivers voice calls over an internet connection, is industry led. Importantly, landlines are not being withdrawn, but their underlying technology is changing from PSTN to VoIP.

VoIP is more resistant to severe weather as the cables used are waterproof, and less prone to damage during a storm or other severe weather events. The PSTN lines are often in the air and fail during storm weather.

The Government has received a number of representations from MPs enquiring about the steps been taken to improve mobile connectivity in rural areas because of concerns over the impact of the PSTN switch-off. As well as maintaining our commitment to our target of 95% of the UK geography being covered by 4G, our ambition is for all populated areas, including rural communities, to have higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030.

The Government is engaging regularly with the telecoms industry to ensure consumers and sectors, including rural businesses, are protected and prepared for the upgrade process throughout the UK. 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 those who are telecare users and those dependent on their landline, including in rural communities.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much funding his Department has provided for research into nutrition in the last 12 months; and whether he has had recent discussions with UK Research and Innovation on nutrition research.

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

Ministers and official meet regularly with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) on a range of issues. UKRI funds a broad range of high-quality research relating to nutrition, spanning different research councils.

During the last 5 years UKRI has spent £251 million on nutrition research, with £65 million spent during the most recent financial year for which full data is available (2023-24).

In addition to this, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) funds research, including on nutrition, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

NIHR spent £11.8 million on nutrition research in the last year and £23.3 million in the last 5 years across a broad spectrum of areas related to nutrition to inform Government policy to improve patient care and help people stay well for longer.

Found: • Will ODA spending by other departments, such as DEFRA, DSIT and DfE, be maintained?

Found: industry in connectivity and the digital strategy being developed by the UK Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

Found: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) Supplementary Estimate 2024-25: Estimates

Found: A warm welcome also to Sarah Munby, who has been the permanent secretary to DSIT since its inception

Found: (JMSC Funding ) Transfer to DLUC re Greater Machester Earn back (annual contribution) Transfer to DSIT

Found: Chris Bryant MP Minister of State Department for Science, Innovation & Technology 100 Parliament

Found: Baroness Maggie Jones Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

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Found: Through DSIT, the Government has its own national security online information team.

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Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the current level of Government funding is for all British activity in Antarctica.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK's investment for British activity in Antarctica comprises a) British Antarctic Survey activity (BAS) which is funded by DSIT; b) deployment of HMS Protector which is funded by the MOD. Across the past three financial years, Navy Command has spent an average of £17.871million to operate Protector in Antarctic (or nearby) waters; c) small grant funding from the FCDO to the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust and British Antarctic Territory which this year amounted to £150,000.

Additionally, the Government has invested significantly into the UK's infrastructure in Antarctica over the past decade, the largest package of funding since the 1980s. The Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP) is a multi-year programme to 2031 to upgrade the UK's facilities at Rothera Research Station. Amounting to approximately £48m per year under the current spending framework, the AIMP includes the ongoing construction of the Discovery Building, a new science and operations centre for Rothera. £40m has also been invested in refurbishing the wharf at Rothera, completed in 2020. In 2014, the then Chancellor announced that the Government would provide £200m to build BAS's state of the art vessel, the RRS Sir David Attenborough (the SDA), one of the biggest commercial shipbuilding contracts undertaken in the UK in decades. The SDA departed for her maiden voyage in November 2021 and has already transformed the way UK research is conducted in the polar regions. She is expected to operate for at least 25 years, providing a modern platform for future generations of UK polar researchers.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her Department's policy is on support for elderly people who lack access to (a) online banking and (b) a physical banking hub.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 200 hubs have been announced so far, and over 100 are already open.

Another option for in-person banking is the Post Office. Through the Post Office Banking Framework, 99% of personal banking and 95% of business banking customers can access vital cash withdrawal and deposit facilities in-person at 11,500 Post Office branches across the country. The Government protects the Post Office network by setting minimum access criteria. These include ensuring that 99% of the UK population lives within three miles of a Post Office and 90% of the population within one mile.

Some banks also provide their own community banking services via pop-ups in community centres and libraries, or operate mobile banking vans, and the Government supports these initiatives.

Further alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking and through digital means such as mobile or online banking. In 2022, over 65% of those aged over 75 used online banking or mobile apps. The Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) has recently published a Digital Inclusion Action Plan which sets out the Government’s first steps towards our long-term objective of ensuring everyone has the access, skills, support and confidence to participate in our modern digital economy.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she is taking steps to ensure that people who rely on in-person banking services are provided with suitable alternatives.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 200 hubs have been announced so far, and over 100 are already open.

Another option for in-person banking is the Post Office. Through the Post Office Banking Framework, 99% of personal banking and 95% of business banking customers can access vital cash withdrawal and deposit facilities in-person at 11,500 Post Office branches across the country. The Government protects the Post Office network by setting minimum access criteria. These include ensuring that 99% of the UK population lives within three miles of a Post Office and 90% of the population within one mile.

Some banks also provide their own community banking services via pop-ups in community centres and libraries, or operate mobile banking vans, and the Government supports these initiatives.

Further alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking and through digital means such as mobile or online banking. In 2022, over 65% of those aged over 75 used online banking or mobile apps. The Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) has recently published a Digital Inclusion Action Plan which sets out the Government’s first steps towards our long-term objective of ensuring everyone has the access, skills, support and confidence to participate in our modern digital economy.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle (a) online fraud and (b) cyber crime.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)

Measures to tackle online fraud will be set out in the upcoming fraud strategy. The Chancellor, Home Secretary and Secretary of State for DSIT have already written to the tech sector to request that companies go further and faster to fight fraud.

Cyber crime causes immense damage to people and businesses in the UK and is a top priority for the Government. Our approach to tackling cyber crime is set out in the UK Government’s National Cyber Strategy. We work closely with our international partners and law enforcement agencies such as the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), to reduce the harm caused by cyber attacks and bolster our resilience. This is mostly recently underscored by the Home Office’s current public consultation on legislative proposals to reduce ransomware payments to cyber criminals and increase incident reporting.

The Home Office’s cyber crime programme has boosted investment and expanded training to improve the law enforcement response to deliver improvements to the UK’s cyber resilience. We provide law enforcement with the necessary cyber skills and training at the national, regional, and local levels to ensure they have the capacity and expertise to deal with the perpetrators and provide support to the victims of cyber crime.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of ending the entitlement of football clubs to claim research and development tax credits.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the importance of Research and Development (R&D) in driving innovation and the benefits it can bring for society, where the R&D tax reliefs play a vital role in the Government’s mission to boost economic growth.

All sectors are able to claim R&D relief on projects that meet the definition of qualifying R&D set out in DSIT Guidelines. R&D claims from all sectors are checked and where risks are identified HMRC use a range of compliance approaches and powers to address them.

There are currently no plans to exclude certain sectors from claiming R&D relief.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is taking to support the creative arts sector in its discussions with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on artificial intelligence and copyright.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The government recognises the importance of the UK’s copyright regime to the economic success of the creative industries, one of eight growth-driving sectors as identified in our Industrial Strategy. We are committed to supporting rights holders by ensuring they retain control over and receive fair payment for their work, especially as technology advances to include AI.

This is an area where the Department for Culture, Media and Sport works closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). We are actively working with stakeholders to ensure copyright protections remain robust and fit for purpose.

As part of this commitment, we have launched a public consultation on Copyright and AI, which opened on the 17 December and closed on the 25 February. This consultation sought to engage stakeholders across AI and the creative industries to assess and address the evolving challenges of copyright regulation.

We will now consider the full range of responses we have received through our consultation on any new approach. No decisions will be taken until we are absolutely confident we have a practical plan that delivers each of our objectives. We will continue to develop our policy approach with DSIT and the IPO in partnership with creative industries, media and AI stakeholders - supporting our brilliant artists and the creative industries to work together with the AI sector to harness the opportunities this technology provides.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the statement by the Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office on 6 February on EU–UK relations (HC Deb cols 963–4), what is the breakdown by department of the 70 direct engagements between UK ministers and EU counterparts.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Responsibility for UK-EU Relations lies with the Cabinet Office and the Paymaster General and Minister for the Constitution and EU Relations Nick Thomas-Symonds, who has spoken with his counterpart Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič seven times. The Prime Minister has spoken with Commission President von der Leyen six times and with Council President Costa twice. Ministers across Government also regularly engage with their EU counterparts, including meetings held by FCDO, DSIT, DBT, DESNZ, HMT, HO, DEFRA, DCMS and others.

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Found: DSIT and HMT are working together to refine and clarify the new PESA R&D data reporting requirements.

Found: NS&I, Royal Mail Pensions, and SIA Gary.Hansman@hmtreasury.gov.uk DfE, DHSC, DESNZ, DSIT

Found: DSIT media enquiries Email press@dsit.gov.uk Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm

Found: Sajad Haq  Mike Sloan  Jan Taylor  Dr Alex Broomsgrove  Prof Mike Hinton  MoD, DSTL, and DSIT

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Found: Thomas Heinis  Dr Aidong Xu  Dr Simon Thomas  Dr Richard Black  Hitesh Ballani  NCSC  DSIT

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Found: Sir Chris Bryant MP Minister of State for Data Protection & Telecoms Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

Found: Sir Chris Bryant MP Minister of State for Data Protection & Telecoms Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

Found: Technology 100 Parliament Street London SW1A 2BQ E: Secretary.State@dsit.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/dsit

Found: UK Government colleagues shared with SG officials on Tuesday that DSIT had no plans to release a statement