Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how AI has improved public services, following their press release Shake-up of Tech and AI Usage Across NHS and Other Public Services to Deliver Plan for Change, published on 21 January.

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

The AI Opportunities Action Plan, published in January 2025, reinforces the power of AI in improving citizens’ experiences of public services and driving up public sector productivity. The Action Plan proposed that we “scan, pilot, and scale” opportunities to embed AI in public services.

To bring immediate focus and pace to this objective, the Cabinet Secretary commissioned the Government Digital Service and the Public Sector Reform Unit in the Cabinet Office to identify a portfolio of AI ‘use cases’ that could benefit from potential Prime Ministerial sponsorship and support from the centre in 2025. These exemplars bring together the Prime Minister’s national AI ambitions, the AI Opportunities Action Plan, and work underway in the Cabinet Office to drive towards a productive and agile state. The Exemplars will be rolled out this year.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to use heat recovery systems in artificial intelligence growth zones, such as Culham, to combine the cooling of data infrastructure with the heating of local homes and amenities.

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

Data centres produce significant heat, most of which is currently wasted into the environment. The technology exists to capture this heat and reuse it in district heating networks, or for heat intensive industries. We welcome the inclusion of heat recovery systems within applications for AI Growth Zones alongside other sustainable solutions.

We are engaging with developers and operators to determine whether further interventions are necessary and appropriate to encourage adoption of heat recovery. The Greater London Authority is currently developing a pilot to test heating up to 10,000 homes and at least one hospital from London-based data centres.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has plans to instruct Ofcom to conduct an impact assessment of the decision to designate end-to-end encryption as a risk factor in their Illegal Harms Codes of Practice and illegal content risk assessment guidance.

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

The Online Safety Act does not ban any service design, including end-to-end-encryption. Under the Act, providers must risk assess the design of their service. Ofcom can only recommend measures in codes of practice that are technically feasible. Separately, Ofcom has powers to direct companies to develop and deploy accredited and accurate technology to identify and remove child sexual abuse material on private communications, but only when all other measures have not adequately addressed the risk.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many meetings about artificial intelligence and copyright issues took place between Ministers and officials from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and representatives of the Tony Blair Institute between July 2024 and March 2025; and what were the dates and outcomes of those meetings.

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

Ministers and officials have regular meetings with a range of stakeholders about AI and Copyright issues, including the Tony Blair Institute.

Ministerial meetings and engagements are published through quarterly transparency reports on gov.uk.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to develop an exascale computing capability in the United Kingdom.

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

Expanding the UK’s compute capability is essential for the development and adoption of AI, scientific research, and improving public services. DSIT and UKRI are taking forward the development of the AI Research Resource, a network of clusters, currently consisting of Isambard-AI, in Bristol, and Dawn, in Cambridge, which will be fully operational by the summer. When this capacity is live, it will increase the UK’s existing public compute capacity by thirty times.

The government set out the further steps it will take to scale-up our compute infrastructure in response to the AI Opportunities Action Plan. This includes commitments to expand the AI Research Resource (AIRR) a further 20x by 2030, and to publish a long-term compute strategy. The government is developing this strategy and recognises the importance of large-scale scientific computing.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what his planned timetable is for responding to the recommendations of the report entitled Creating a safer world: the challenge of regulating online pornography, published on 27 February 2025.

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

Services in scope of the Online Safety Act are already required to take action to tackle horrific illegal pornographic content and will be required prevent children accessing all pornographic content.

The Secretary of State has met Baroness Bertin to discuss her review. The review’s findings continue to be assessed by the Government and an update will be provided in due course.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to encourage social media companies to tackle animal abuse content online.

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

Animal abuse content is horrific, and social media companies must do more to tackle it.

Social media platforms and search services have duties to tackle animal abuse content and implement safety-by-design features under the Online Safety Act.

Ofcom – the independent regulator - has published recommendations for how providers should tackle such content under their ‘illegal content duties’.

These duties took effect on 17 March and Ofcom have strong enforcement powers to hold companies accountable for failing to meet their obligations.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support innovation in the manufacturing of optics equipment.

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

Growing innovative manufacturing companies will be key to unlocking growth across the economy.

Optics has many applications across different sectors and we provide a range of support for firms specialising in it. For example, UKRI is funding over £116,000 to the University of Edinburgh and Optos PLC based in Dunfermline to develop technology for optical medical devices.

The National Physical Laboratory provides a comprehensive range of optical calibration and measurement services, supporting industry in the design and production of optical components.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the safety of children online.

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

The government is implementing the Online Safety Act as quickly and effectively as possible, so children can be protected from criminal behaviour and harmful content online.

The illegal content duties are now in force, so platforms already need to act to protect their users.

The child safety duties will be in force from the Summer, at which point companies will need to further protect children from harmful content such as pornography, suicide and self-harm material.

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 increase online safety for children and young people.

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

The government is implementing the Online Safety Act as quickly and effectively as possible, so children can be protected from criminal behaviour and harmful content online.

The illegal content duties are now in force, so platforms already need to act to protect their users.

The child safety duties will be in force from the Summer, at which point companies will need to further protect children from harmful content such as pornography, suicide and self-harm material.

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 help improve mobile phone coverage in rural areas.

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

Through the Shared Rural Network, we are continuing to deliver 4G connectivity where there is limited or no coverage.

Beyond this, our ambition is for all populated areas, including rural communities, to have higher quality standalone 5G by 2030.

We are working with Ofcom and the industry to ensure we have the right policy and regulatory framework to support investment and competition in the market, including more accurate coverage reporting.

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 help improve broadband connectivity in rural communities.

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

According to the independent website ThinkBroadband.com, over 86% of UK premises can access a gigabit-capable broadband connection.

More than £2 billion of contracts have now been signed to provide gigabit connectivity to over a million more premises. The vast majority of the premises to be covered by these contracts will be in rural areas.

This includes the first Project Gigabit contract in Scotland which was announced last month, and we aim to announce further contracts in the coming months.

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 Online Safety Act 2023 on (a) small websites, (b) online services, (c) personal blogs and (d) community-run platforms; and whether he is taking steps to prevent (i) the closure of safe online spaces and (ii) blocking of UK users by overseas services, in the context of the implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023.

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

Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope user-to-user and search services must assess for risks of illegal content and harm to children. Ofcom is the independent regulator for this regime. It sets out what steps small low-risk providers need to take to fulfil their duties following their risk assessment. When implementing these duties, Ofcom is legally required to ensure burdens on providers are proportionate to their risk factors, size, and capacity. Ofcom recently launched an online digital toolkit, aimed at helping smaller services with compliance (https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/ofcom-launches-digital-safety-toolkit-for-online-services/).

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help improve digital skills for people over 70 years old in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) Staffordshire.

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

The Government published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan in February 2025, identifying five target groups to benefit most from digital inclusion initiatives, including older and young people. The Government understands there are many other impacted groups, and is committed to delivering digital inclusion for everyone across the UK, whatever their circumstances.

The Action Plan outlines five immediate Government actions, including enhancing support for the Essential Digital Skills framework that helps people and businesses get essential skills they need to get online safely and confidently, and the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund to support local digital inclusion initiatives across the UK.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help improve digital skills for women in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.

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

The Government published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan in February 2025, identifying five target groups to benefit most from digital inclusion initiatives, including older and young people. The Government understands there are many other impacted groups, and is committed to delivering digital inclusion for everyone across the UK, whatever their circumstances.

The Action Plan outlines five immediate Government actions, including enhancing support for the Essential Digital Skills framework that helps people and businesses get essential skills they need to get online safely and confidently, and the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund to support local digital inclusion initiatives across the UK.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help improve digital skills for young people not in education, employment or training in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) Staffordshire.

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

The Government published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan in February 2025, identifying five target groups to benefit most from digital inclusion initiatives, including older and young people. The Government understands there are many other impacted groups, and is committed to delivering digital inclusion for everyone across the UK, whatever their circumstances.

The Action Plan outlines five immediate Government actions, including enhancing support for the Essential Digital Skills framework that helps people and businesses get essential skills they need to get online safely and confidently, and the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund to support local digital inclusion initiatives across the UK.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help improve mobile network signal in North Somerset constituency.

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

I have asked Ofcom to check their figures, but according to them, 94% of the constituency has 4G geographic coverage from all four mobile operators, while 5G is available outside 96% of premises from at least one operator. The government’s ambition is for all populated areas, including rural communities, to have higher quality standalone 5G by 2030.

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

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support the development of the space industry in the UK.

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

Space is a strategic priority for this government and is essential to achieving our mission to deliver growth as a priority. The National Space Strategy and our identified priority capability goals continue to drive government policy.

We will publish an ambitious programme for space when the Spending Review has completed.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department (a) monitors and (b) regulates the use of AI in apps aimed at children and teenagers.

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

The Online Safety Act places new duties on both user-to-user and search services. The strongest protections in the Act are for children, who will be protected from both illegal content, and legal content which is nonetheless harmful to children (including content which is AI generated) Ofcom has set out steps providers can take to fulfil their child safety duties, which will be in force in the Summer.

The vast majority of AI systems should be regulated at the point of use, and the UK’s existing expert regulators are best placed to do this. We remain committed to introducing targeted rules on companies developing the most powerful AI models to ensure we can realise the benefits of these systems safely.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what estimate he has made of the number of data centres built in England in each of the last five years.

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

The Government has not historically collected figures on the growth of data centre capacity but has monitored the market periodically and through industry engagement. Other sources for this historical data are available, for example through Tech UK or CBRE's market outlooks.

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 (a) his international counterparts and (b) regulators in (i) Germany and (ii) Romania on (A) Online Safety Act 2023 and (B) foreign interference in elections.

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

International collaboration is crucial in tackling the global threat of online harms. DSIT Ministers and officials meet regularly with international partners to discuss online safety, including foreign interference in elections. Tackling foreign interference is crucial to uphold our democratic values, and we are committed to promoting a free, open and secure internet. The latest list of DSIT ministerial meetings (July – September 2024) can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dsit-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-meetings-july-to-september-2024

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment he has made of the availability of full-fibre broadband in Slough constituency.

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

The government is committed to delivering 2030 nationwide gigabit connectivity coverage, with 86% of premises now able to access a gigabit-capable connection thanks to a pro-competition regulatory environment. There is now a thriving market of over 100 providers, investing over £40bn rolling out gigabit broadband all over the UK.

Project Gigabit primarily focuses on the rural areas which are the hardest to reach commercially. We anticipate that the majority of urban areas will receive gigabit-capable broadband through commercial investment. While there is no planned build in Slough under Project Gigabit, the government continues to review the best ways to address gaps in coverage in urban areas.

CityFibre and Gigaclear are delivering Project Gigabit-funded contracts across the South East of England. Alongside them, we continue to engage closely with local businesses and residents regarding rollout.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions he has had with (a) local businesses and (b) residents on the coverage of full-fibre broadband in (i) Slough constituency and (ii) South East England.

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

The government is committed to delivering 2030 nationwide gigabit connectivity coverage, with 86% of premises now able to access a gigabit-capable connection thanks to a pro-competition regulatory environment. There is now a thriving market of over 100 providers, investing over £40bn rolling out gigabit broadband all over the UK.

Project Gigabit primarily focuses on the rural areas which are the hardest to reach commercially. We anticipate that the majority of urban areas will receive gigabit-capable broadband through commercial investment. While there is no planned build in Slough under Project Gigabit, the government continues to review the best ways to address gaps in coverage in urban areas.

CityFibre and Gigaclear are delivering Project Gigabit-funded contracts across the South East of England. Alongside them, we continue to engage closely with local businesses and residents regarding rollout.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he has taken to increase coverage of full-fibre broadband availability in Slough constituency.

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

The government is committed to delivering 2030 nationwide gigabit connectivity coverage, with 86% of premises now able to access a gigabit-capable connection thanks to a pro-competition regulatory environment. There is now a thriving market of over 100 providers, investing over £40bn rolling out gigabit broadband all over the UK.

Project Gigabit primarily focuses on the rural areas which are the hardest to reach commercially. We anticipate that the majority of urban areas will receive gigabit-capable broadband through commercial investment. While there is no planned build in Slough under Project Gigabit, the government continues to review the best ways to address gaps in coverage in urban areas.

CityFibre and Gigaclear are delivering Project Gigabit-funded contracts across the South East of England. Alongside them, we continue to engage closely with local businesses and residents regarding rollout.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answers of 6 March 2025 to Question 36136 on Geothermal Power: County Durham and to Question 36137 on Data Centres: Energy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing funding for AI hubs in County Durham by using geothermal energy production.

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

The Government recognises the importance of continued innovation and improvements in the efficiency of AI.

AI Growth Zones will help shift energy demand to areas with more capacity, reducing pressure on congested parts of the grid. DSIT are working closely with DESNZ and the National Energy System Operator to align AI energy demand with future energy planning and ensure long-term sustainability.

Through the AI Energy Council, we will also build on this progress by exploring bold, clean energy solutions to ensure our AI ambitions align with the UK’s net zero goals.

UK government and local authorities will actively seek to secure the best deal possible for local communities where AI Growth Zones are allocated.

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 Department’s policies of the recommendations of the Sullivan Review of Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender, published on 19 March 2025.

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

Sex and gender in data, statistics and research is an important area of discussion, and this review contributes to this ongoing dialogue. Given the wide breadth of recommendations, the government has ensured that the review has been shared with all the relevant departments and policy teams, who will consider the findings in light of their ongoing policy work.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) charities, (2) campaign organisations, and (3) survivors, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology has met regarding adult non-consensual intimate image abuse since 5 July 2024; and on which date each meeting took place.

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

The Secretary of State has made it a key priority to tackle intimate image abuse and in September 2024 made new intimate images offences priority offences under the OSA. Online platforms must proactively tackle such content from 17 March.

The Secretary of State cares deeply about this topic and spoke alongside campaigners at Ofcom’s violence against women and girls event in November.

Ministers have regular meetings with a range of stakeholders on a number of subjects, including non-consensual intimate image abuse. Details of Ministerial meetings, including the purpose of meetings, are published quarterly on the GOV.UK website

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the civil service can attract artificial intelligence experts from the private sector; and what assessment they have made of whether this will increase the effectiveness of the civil service.

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

The Government is actively attracting AI experts from the private sector. Key steps include the AI Accelerator Programme, cross-sector secondments, and specialist AI roles such as Machine learning engineer. The Government Digital and Data Pay Framework ensures competitive salaries, while AI training courses on Civil Service-Learning support upskilling. These efforts aim to enhance decision-making, improve public services, strengthen cybersecurity, and increase efficiency. The government has also unveiled ambitious plans to grow the digital workforce, targeting 10% of civil servants in digital roles within five years.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what plans his Department has to enable Ofcom to regulate poor customer service.

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

Ofcom’s principal duty, established by the Communications Act 2003, is to further the interests of citizens and consumers, and Ofcom sets its regulatory framework to promote good outcomes for consumers, in line with this duty.

For telecoms, Ofcom has a duty to set General Conditions with which communications providers must comply. These are published on Ofcom’s website and include conditions on complaints handling and dispute resolution. In addition to this, for example, Ofcom has introduced requirements to send end-of-contract notifications and published guidance to help providers support vulnerable consumers. Ofcom also publishes the Comparing Customer Service (CCS) report to show how customer service levels compare across the telecoms industry.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Succession Select AI tool published by his Department on 17 December 2024, whether the First Civil Service Commissioner was consulted about the use of AI for Civil Service appointments.

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

Succession Select is designed solely as a search tool to identify current Senior Civil Servant (SCS) whose career profiles match the requirements for senior digital roles. This tool is not a part of the SCS hiring process and is an efficiency tool to aid internal talent management and is not used to fill vacancies. As the tool is not part of the hiring process, consultation with the First Civil Service Commissioner was not required or needed.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether any properties in Skipton and Ripon constituency have been identified as very hard to reach by Project Gigabit.

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

We expect most UK premises to be able to access a gigabit-capable connection through commercial rollout or Project Gigabit by 2030. Due to value for money constraints, very hard to reach premises are not within the scope of Project Gigabit.

As Project Gigabit progresses, we are building a more accurate picture of premises likely to be classed as very hard to reach. This is an iterative process with potential very hard to reach premises present across the UK.

For these premises, we continue to explore alternative connectivity options to ensure people living and working in these communities have the connectivity they require to access online services.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent the public provision of personally identifiable information online.

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

All organisations in the UK that process personal data must comply with the requirements of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA).

The legislation sets out a series of principles with which organisations must comply. These include the need to process personal data lawfully, fairly, transparently and securely, unless certain limited exemptions apply. The legislation also gives people rights in relation to their personal data, such as the right to seek access to it, object to its processing or seek its erasure.

The legislation does not prevent individuals posting personal data online if it is done for domestic purposes, such as messaging friends, or sharing photos with their social networks, but the platforms that host the data will be subject to the legislation.

If individuals are concerned that organisations are processing their personal data unlawfully, they can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office which is responsible for regulating the legislation.

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) Connecting Devon and Somerset and (b) Airband on (i) resuming full-scale operations and (ii) the effectiveness of communications between the three parties.

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

Building Digital UK (BDUK) is working with both Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) and Airband to identify premises which will no longer be connected via its Superfast contracts for the area. Premises that have been descoped from the Airband contracts and are not in any commercial plans are now eligible for support through Project Gigabit.

However, approximately 6,000 premises across the area are likely to remain in scope of Airband’s subsidised delivery. The supplier expects to resume this work in June and complete it by the end of 2027. BDUK is in regular contact with both parties to monitor this delivery.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure 4G coverage across Skipton and Ripon constituency in the context of (a) the Shared Rural Network and (b) future smart meter network upgrades.

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

Skipton and Ripon has already benefited from the industry-funded part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) which has now been completed. 4G coverage from all four mobile network operators has increased to 67% up from 60% and up from 87% to 90% from at least one mobile network operator since the programme was agreed in 2020. There are further improvements to come via the government funded element of the SRN which will see us upgrade six Home Office masts that will deliver new 4G coverage across Skipton and Ripon for the first time.

The Data Communications Company is required by licence conditions to assess opportunities to increase the overall level of smart meter Wide Area Network coverage and are examining a number of options to reach homes not currently able to get coverage as part of its Future Connectivity strategy, which includes consideration of a full range of technical solutions.

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 advanced AI systems on (a) recruitment, (b) performance management and (c) other employment practices; and whether his Department is considering safeguards to reduce this impact.

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

We are already witnessing AI’s impact within the labour market. We are working to harness the benefits that AI can bring – such as productivity gains, rising living standards, and improved worker wellbeing; while mitigating the risks. DSIT has developed guidance for industry on the responsible adoption of AI in recruitment processes, utilising AI assurance techniques.

The Get Britain Working White Paper from DWP, HMT and DfE also sets out how government will address key labour market challenges. We will continue to work closely with these and other government departments through the AI Opportunities Action Plan on this rapidly developing 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 Online Safety Act 2023 on (a) small websites, (b) personal blogs and (c) community forums.

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

Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope user-to-user and search services must risk assess for content that is illegal and harmful to children. Ofcom, the independent regulator for this regime, set out what steps small, low-risk providers need to take to fulfil their duties following their risk assessment. When implementing these duties, Ofcom is legally required to ensure burdens on providers are proportionate to their risk factors, size, and capacity. Ofcom recently launched an online digital toolkit, aimed at helping smaller services with compliance (https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/ofcom-launches-digital-safety-toolkit-for-online-services/

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 proposals to (a) integrate geospatial data into the National Data Library and (b) review licensing barriers to its use.

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

This Government has been clear that it wants to maximise the benefits from public sector data assets to deliver better public services and cutting-edge innovation. The National Data Library will provide simple, secure and ethical access to our key public data assets for researchers, policy makers and business.

Work is underway to design the National Data Library, including consideration of the data to be included and how it should be licensed, and decisions on its design and implementation will be set out in due course.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department is following The UK’s International Technology Strategy, published on 22 March 2023, CP 810.

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

The 2023 International Technology Strategy set out an international approach guided by four principles: Open; Responsible; Secure; and Resilient. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology remains supportive of such principles and continues to prioritise the five critical technologies first outlined in the UK Science and Technology Framework. Collaborating with international partners on technology allows us to access global expertise, accelerate innovation and drive economic growth. For example, Oracle, the US based tech firm, recently announced £3.8 billion of investment in the UK to create jobs, grow the economy, and spur on cloud/ AI development. The forthcoming Industrial Strategy will include more detail on how we are leveraging international partnerships and trade to support this growth driving sector.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if the International Technology Strategy is still being followed.

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

The 2023 International Technology Strategy set out an international approach guided by four principles: Open; Responsible; Secure; and Resilient. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology remains supportive of such principles and continues to prioritise the five critical technologies first outlined in the UK Science and Technology Framework. Collaborating with international partners on technology allows us to access global expertise, accelerate innovation and drive economic growth. For example, Oracle, the US based tech firm, recently announced £3.8 billion of investment in the UK to create jobs, grow the economy, and spur on cloud/ AI development. The forthcoming Industrial Strategy will include more detail on how we are leveraging international partnerships and trade to support this growth driving 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 help increase the numbers of leading international scientists who choose to undertake their research in the UK.

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

The UK boasts a world-leading science base, supported by top universities and research institutions. We are open for business in science and technology and aim to be the destination of choice for globally mobile top talent.

DSIT is committed to working with the R&D sector, including academia and industry, to attract and retain top talent in the UK. This includes funding through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Academies, which offer prestigious fellowships and professorships.

The UK's association with the Horizon Europe programme has also opened more opportunities for British scientists and researchers, providing access to extensive funding streams and a collaborative environment that attracts top-tier talent globally.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many meetings his Department has had with representatives of the civilian space sector since 5 July 2024.

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

Ministers and officials have regular meetings with a range of stakeholders representing the civilian space sector.

Details of ministerial meetings, including the purpose of meetings, are published quarterly on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dsit-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of allocating dedicated radio spectrum access to energy (a) distribution and (b) transmission networks on (i) the resilience and (ii) decarbonisation of those networks.

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

The government is considering how it can support the development of telecommunications infrastructure for a decarbonised energy system, and whether spectrum access would be appropriate. As part of this, my officials are in regular discussion with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ofgem and Ofcom on energy system telecommunications needs.

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 help tackle the threat posed by quantum computing to cybersecurity infrastructure.

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

The government recognises the cyber threats posed by quantum computing. The NCSC recently issued new guidance to help organisations prepare for and protect against threats posed by future developments in quantum computing [https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/pqc-migration-timelines]. The guidance is focused on migrating to post-quantum cryptography to mitigate the potential future quantum threat to encryption services, and identifying and mitigating cyber risks during the migration.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and NCSC have also commissioned external research to understand industry barriers and incentives to migrate to post-quantum cryptography. This will be used to inform future policy interventions to drive the transition.

The government continues to monitor developments in quantum computing and uptake of post-quantum cryptography, including working with other countries to keep UK citizens and organisations secure. The government continues to assess wider cyber risks from critical and emerging technologies on an ongoing basis.

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 increased use of AI by (a) cyber-criminals and (b) nation state actors on cyber security risks to the UK.

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

Cyber security is a priority for the government. We are taking action to protect businesses, citizens and essential services against cyber threats. Last year the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said AI will almost certainly increase the volume and heighten the impact of cyber attacks over the next two years, however the impact on the cyber threat would be uneven. The full report is at https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/report/impact-of-ai-on-cyber-threat .

The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will require regulated organisations to adopt cyber security measures which protect against a wide range of cyber threats, including AI-enabled threats. Further details on the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will be published in due course.

Cyber attacks cost the UK economy billions of pounds per year, resulting in serious disruption for businesses and individuals, and disruption to supply chains and public services. Cyber attacks harm confidence and investment in UK technology, while intellectual property can be stolen which has cost billions of pounds to develop. The Cyber Security Breaches Survey [https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cyber-security-breaches-survey] sets out further details on the impact of cyber threats and we will publish further research on this in due course.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to include provisions within the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill on requiring regulated organisations to adopt cybersecurity to help tackle AI-enabled threats.

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

Cyber security is a priority for the government. We are taking action to protect businesses, citizens and essential services against cyber threats. Last year the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said AI will almost certainly increase the volume and heighten the impact of cyber attacks over the next two years, however the impact on the cyber threat would be uneven. The full report is at https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/report/impact-of-ai-on-cyber-threat .

The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will require regulated organisations to adopt cyber security measures which protect against a wide range of cyber threats, including AI-enabled threats. Further details on the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will be published in due course.

Cyber attacks cost the UK economy billions of pounds per year, resulting in serious disruption for businesses and individuals, and disruption to supply chains and public services. Cyber attacks harm confidence and investment in UK technology, while intellectual property can be stolen which has cost billions of pounds to develop. The Cyber Security Breaches Survey [https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cyber-security-breaches-survey] sets out further details on the impact of cyber threats and we will publish further research on this in due course.

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) AI-enabled and (b) other cyber attacks on economic (i) security and (ii) competitiveness.

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

Cyber security is a priority for the government. We are taking action to protect businesses, citizens and essential services against cyber threats. Last year the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said AI will almost certainly increase the volume and heighten the impact of cyber attacks over the next two years, however the impact on the cyber threat would be uneven. The full report is at https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/report/impact-of-ai-on-cyber-threat .

The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will require regulated organisations to adopt cyber security measures which protect against a wide range of cyber threats, including AI-enabled threats. Further details on the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will be published in due course.

Cyber attacks cost the UK economy billions of pounds per year, resulting in serious disruption for businesses and individuals, and disruption to supply chains and public services. Cyber attacks harm confidence and investment in UK technology, while intellectual property can be stolen which has cost billions of pounds to develop. The Cyber Security Breaches Survey [https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cyber-security-breaches-survey] sets out further details on the impact of cyber threats and we will publish further research on this in due course.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether Ofcom has made an estimate of the reduction in fraud on in-scope platforms from the Illegal Content Codes of Practice.

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

The Online Safety Act gives user-to-user and search service providers new duties for tackling illegal fraud. These duties took effect on 17 March. Providers will need to conduct risk assessments and ensure they put in place systems and processes that proactively tackle fraud. Ofcom set out details about how providers can comply with their duties in its illegal harms codes of practice. Ofcom will keep the effectiveness of its codes under review and strengthen the codes as needed. The department is not aware of any specific estimate for fraud reduction by Ofcom.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) cyber security laws and (b) supporting regulatory guidance in preventing supply chain attacks on critical (i) services and (ii) infrastructure.

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

Our current cyber security laws – the NIS Regulations (2018) – are inherited from the EU and are the UK’s only cross-sector cyber security-specific legislation. The cyber threat has since evolved since 2018 due to AI and other technology and geopolitical trends. The laws therefore require an urgent update to ensure UK infrastructure and economy is not comparably more vulnerable. This is why we announced the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which will improve the UK’s cyber defences, strengthen our regulatory approach and protect more digital services and supply chains.

The government announced in September 2024 that data centres have been designated as critical national infrastructure, meaning the sector will benefit from greater government support in preparing for and managing critical incidents. Further details on the content of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will be published in due course.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will ensure that data centres are (a) secure and (b) resilient.

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

Our current cyber security laws – the NIS Regulations (2018) – are inherited from the EU and are the UK’s only cross-sector cyber security-specific legislation. The cyber threat has since evolved since 2018 due to AI and other technology and geopolitical trends. The laws therefore require an urgent update to ensure UK infrastructure and economy is not comparably more vulnerable. This is why we announced the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which will improve the UK’s cyber defences, strengthen our regulatory approach and protect more digital services and supply chains.

The government announced in September 2024 that data centres have been designated as critical national infrastructure, meaning the sector will benefit from greater government support in preparing for and managing critical incidents. Further details on the content of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will be published in due course.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what contracts are held by (1) government departments, and (2) arm's-length bodies, with Starlink; and what is the value and duration of each contract.

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

The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and its Arms Lengths Body’s (ALBs) including the United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA) hold no contracts directly with Starlink, aside from the Very Hard to Reach Alpha trials which are due to close in the coming quarter. These are rolling monthly contracts with Starlink Internet Services, and the currently anticipated expenditure in March 2025 is £1,035.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) alongside the Ministry of Defence (MOD) have reported no contracts with Starlink. The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) does not hold information on which departments have used Starlink.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress his Department has made on the rollout of Project Gigabit in Ossett and Denby Dale constituency.

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

According to the independent website Thinkbroadband.com, over 99% of premises in the Ossett and Denby Dale constituency can access superfast broadband speeds (>=30 Mbps) and over 96% have access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection (>1000 Mbps).

To improve this coverage further, Quickline is delivering several Project Gigabit contracts across Yorkshire, targeted at bringing gigabit-capable broadband to premises in hard-to-reach areas that are unlikely to be otherwise reached by suppliers’ commercial rollout. Work has already commenced in parts of Ossett and Denby Dales.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has carried out an impact assessment for the decision to delay implementation of measures in the Online Safety Act 2023 on fraudulent advertising for Category One services.

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

Ofcom expects to publish the draft Codes of Practice on the remaining duties on categorised services by early 2026, later than it originally anticipated. The fraudulent advertising duties rely on these codes being in force. Separately, the illegal content duties are now in force and user-to-user services must have appropriate measures to protect users from user-generated fraud. The government has published an enactment impact assessment for the Online Safety Act but has not carried out an impact assessment specifically on the timing of the fraudulent advertising duties coming into effect.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department monitors (a) UK research and development capacity and (b) the impact of reductions in funding by university departments on that capacity.

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

Research England engages regularly with leaders at all research-intensive universities on a range of issues including R&D capacity. The government is concerned about the potential impact of cuts by universities on UK R&D capacity and is monitoring the situation.

We are determined to work with the sector to transition to sustainable research funding models, including by increasing research grant cost recovery as announced by UKRI last week. However, universities also need to take their own steps to ensure they are working as efficiently as possible and cost their research appropriately.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of radio waves from satellites on astronomical observation, and what steps they are taking to mitigate any interference.

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

The Government draws on the international studies that indicate the increasing number of communications satellites, particularly in Low Earth Orbits (LEO), have the potential to cause interference to some radio astronomy facilities. The UK regulator Ofcom has aligned its licences for LEO constellations with international regulations to protect radio astronomy sites in the UK.

Through the International Telecommunications Union, the UK is actively participating in studies on reducing interference to internationally important radio astronomy sites including the Square Kilometre Array. These will lead to the development of new regulations with the potential to be confirmed at the 2027 World Radio Conference.

I also refer to the answer I gave the Viscount Stansgate during a Lords Oral Question session on Wednesday 20th November 2024.

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 the Secretary of State for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs on the implications of the use of Artificial Intelligence on the water supply.

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

My department has discussed the implications of Artificial Intelligence with DEFRA, and representatives from UK water companies, on multiple occasions. We also engage the AI data centre industry to understand how water is used and explore potential alternatives or ways to minimise any potential impact on supplies and output of wastewater. Data centres, and the compute they provide, will also play a major role in powering the high-tech solutions to environmental challenges.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many satellites under the control of UK-registered businesses have been launched from overseas locations in each of the past 15 years.

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

728 UK-registered satellites have been launched overseas in the last 15 years. Between 2010 and 2019 there was an average of five and a half UK-registered satellites launched overseas each year, rising to 134.4 launches each year between 2020 and 2024.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department is following the UK Science and Technology Framework, published on 6 March 2023; and whether he plans to implement the objectives of that framework by 2030.

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

The Science and Technology Framework is the integrated, systems-level approach to science and technology (S&T) with a holistic set of ten critical levers that the government can use to drive growth and improve the lives of citizens.

The government is committed to the Framework and to applying these levers to ensure S&T is at the heart of delivering our core priorities including the Plan for Change, the Five National Missions and the Industrial Strategy.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many satellites under the control of UK-registered businesses have been in orbit in each year of the past 15 years; and what estimate they have made of the number of satellites under the control of UK-registered business in orbit by 2035.

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

According to the UN Index of Objects Launched in Outer Space and following the Elevation-1 satellite launch earlier this year, there are now 763 UK owned satellites in orbit. We do not currently have an estimate of the number of UK-registered satellites expected to be in orbit by 2035.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the total number of satellites expected to be in orbit by 2035, and how many satellites were in orbit in each of the past 15 years.

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

Estimates vary but the total number of satellites in orbit is expected to reach up to 60,000 by 2030, and increase further by 2035. In 2010 the total number of satellites in orbit was 3,327, rising to 6,271 by 2020 and to over 13,600 today.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has considered including transparency and public accountability requirements as part of any regulatory model for advanced artificial intelligence systems.

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

The government is clear in its ambition to bring forward legislation which allows us to safely realise the enormous benefits and opportunities of the most powerful AI systems for years to come.

These proposals will be highly targeted, will build on the voluntary commitments already secured at the Seoul and Bletchley AI Safety Summits, and will be designed to be future-proofed and effective against this fast-evolving technology.

The government is continuing to refine its proposals, which will incentivise innovation and investment, and will launch a public consultation in due course.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department is funding research into (a) sensory processing sensitivity and (b) mitigations for that sensitivity.

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

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) delivers a substantial portfolio of researcher-led projects and strategic investments, including research into sensory processing sensitivities, such as autism and ADHD. Research is funded by different Research Councils, including the Medical Research Council through its Neurosciences and Mental Health Board.

Additionally, the Department of Health and Social Care funds health research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes proposals for research into a range of conditions, including sensory processing sensitivity, at https://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/suggest-a-research-topic

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the UK's contingency plans to tackle quantum cyber threats; and if he will conduct a comparative assessment on the effectiveness of these measures compared to those used by his international counterparts.

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

The government recognises the cyber threats posed by quantum computing. The NCSC recently issued new guidance to help organisations prepare for and protect against threats posed by future developments in quantum computing [https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/pqc-migration-timelines]. The guidance is focused on migrating to post-quantum cryptography to mitigate the potential future quantum threat to encryption services, and identifying and mitigating cyber risks during the migration.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and NCSC have also commissioned external research to understand industry barriers and incentives to migrate to post-quantum cryptography. This will be used to inform future policy interventions to drive the transition.

The government continues to monitor developments in quantum computing and uptake of post-quantum cryptography, including working with other countries to keep UK citizens and organisations secure. The government continues to assess wider cyber risks from critical and emerging technologies on an ongoing basis.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what (a) guidance and (b) resources he is providing to (i) small and medium enterprises and (ii) other businesses to help (A) prepare for and (B) mitigate quantum cyber risks.

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

The government recognises the cyber threats posed by quantum computing. The NCSC recently issued new guidance to help organisations prepare for and protect against threats posed by future developments in quantum computing [https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/pqc-migration-timelines]. The guidance is focused on migrating to post-quantum cryptography to mitigate the potential future quantum threat to encryption services, and identifying and mitigating cyber risks during the migration.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and NCSC have also commissioned external research to understand industry barriers and incentives to migrate to post-quantum cryptography. This will be used to inform future policy interventions to drive the transition.

The government continues to monitor developments in quantum computing and uptake of post-quantum cryptography, including working with other countries to keep UK citizens and organisations secure. The government continues to assess wider cyber risks from critical and emerging technologies on an ongoing basis.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect there to be 100 per cent fast speed broadband coverage in rural areas.

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

Superfast broadband (>=30Mbps) is now available to 98% of UK premises, with Project Gigabit delivering gigabit-capable broadband (>=1000 Mbps) to those not included in suppliers' commercial plans.

Over 86% of UK premises can now access gigabit-capable broadband, according to the independent website Thinkbroadband.com. Our goal is that at least 99% of UK premises will be able to access gigabit coverage by 2030.

Some rural and remote premises will remain too expensive to build a gigabit-capable connection to. The government is considering what policy measures may be required to help provide them with ultrafast (>=100Mbps) connections.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to retain copper landlines in rural areas to ensure continuous telephone access during extreme weather events.

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

The copper landline network, also known as the Public Switched Telephone Network, is a privately-owned network and the decision to upgrade it has been taken by the telecoms industry. The industry’s decision to upgrade the PSTN is due to necessity, as the network is increasingly unreliable and prone to failure. In 2024, Ofcom (the independent telecoms regulator) recorded a 45% increase in PSTN resilience incidents. The PSTN is not being retained anywhere.

In the event of a power cut caused by extreme weather events, telecoms companies have a regulatory obligation to ensure that customers have access to emergency services for a minimum of one hour, for example by providing them with battery back-ups that power telephones during a power outage. In practice, many are offering solutions which exceed these minimum standards.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to create regulations for artificial intelligence, and if so, how these will impact companies and customers.

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

Most AI systems should be regulated at the point of use, and our expert regulators are best placed to do this. The AI Opportunities Action Plan sets out a number of recommendations on how the Government can proactively work with regulators to support our ambitions for AI and growth, which the Government will be taking forward.

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

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Meta's content reporting procedures.

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

Under the Online Safety Act all in scope services, including Meta, will be required to have systems and processes to enable users and other affected persons to report instances of the types of content the services have responsibility for. This includes illegal content, and, where relevant, content that is harmful to children (where services are likely to be accessed by children).

The Act also requires Ofcom to review the efficacy of content reporting and complaints mechanisms once the above duties have been implemented.

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 effectiveness of LaunchUK in facilitating a small satellite launch.

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

Government is committed to making the UK a European leader in small satellite launches and delivering a launch capability that brings benefits to communities and organisations across the UK.

We have made significant progress towards this goal. The UK is the only European country with multiple spaceports licensed for orbital launches, and Spaceport Cornwall conducted the first orbital launch from European soil in 2023. Although the satellites carried onboard were not successfully placed into orbit due to an anomaly, the launch showed that the UK is capable of launching satellites into space.

The next UK launches are planned from SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland, which received its launch licence last year. Several domestic and foreign launch operators are targeting orbital launches from SaxaVord from this year.

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 adequacy of progress towards the CLEAR UK Space Agency Mission de-orbiting two satellites by 2026.

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

The ‘CLEAR’ debris removal mission, led by ClearSpace UK, passed its Preliminary Design Review in April 2024. Since then, through phase two of the UK Space Agency’s active debris removal (ADR) programme, CLEAR has undergone £2,350,000 of derisking activities to enhance the technology readiness levels of critical mission systems and refine mission costs.

CLEAR’s progress is in line with UK Space Agency (UKSA) mission planning. Subject to the Spending Review outcome, UKSA is developing the business case for phase three of the ADR programme which, if successful, will be published for tender in mid-2025 and awarded to one supplier for mission launch in 2028.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will introduce legislation to put a statutory duty on generative AI developers to (a) complete risk assessments for and (b) mitigate risks of contributing to illegal activity.

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

We remain committed to introducing targeted rules on companies developing the most powerful AI models to ensure we can realise the benefits of these systems safely.

The Central AI Risk Function continues to identify, assess and prepare for risks associated with AI, including the risks of AI contributing to illegal activity.

The Online Safety Act also places new duties on companies that provide user-to-user services and search services that will do more to mitigate the risk of illegal content on their services.

We will continue to engage with the tech sector to support them in making their technology safer.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will put a statutory duty on small websites to prevent putting children at risk of (a) sexual extortion, (b) grooming and (c) generating child sexual abuse images.

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

The Online Safety Act creates new duties on online services to protect users from being harmed by illegal content and activity. The strongest duties are to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation (CSEA) and to stop child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from being shared. The illegal content duties have been in effect from 17 March. Ofcom is the regulator for the regime and has set out steps providers can take including strong automated content moderation measures and anti-grooming measures. Ofcom will continue to develop their codes iteratively, including measures to detect, prevent and remove CSAM.

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 social media companies on online safety for children.

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

This year, as platforms start to comply with the duties under the Online Safety Act, the Government has high expectations that there will be a significant change in online experiences for children and Ofcom stands ready to act against services who fall short in protecting users online.

Ministers and officials have regular meetings with a range of stakeholders, including social media companies, to discuss how we can continue to protect children online. Details of ministerial meetings, including the purpose of meetings, are published quarterly on the gov.uk website.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure the accountability of social media companies on online safety.

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

The Online Safety Act puts new duties on social media companies and search services, making them responsible for their users’ safety on their platforms.

The duties are now coming into effect, with platforms now being required by law to implement measures to reduce the risk of illegal content and activity on their services, with additional protections for children coming this Summer.

Ofcom has a range of strong enforcement powers to use if services fail to comply with the Act, including the ability to issue fines, and implement business disruption measures.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2025 to Question 35265 on Animal Experiments, what steps he plans to take to (a) monitor and (b) report on progress made against the commitments set out in the planned strategy.

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

The Government is committed to supporting the uptake and development of alternative methods to the use of animals in science. The Government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year. Regarding the monitoring and reporting on progress on commitments made, the plan will include arrangements for governance of delivery.

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 impact of Part 2 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 on the rollout of 5G.

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

The Government outlined its estimates of the potential impact of Part 2 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 in its de minimis impact assessment. The impact assessment can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/627a76c88fa8f57d86f3f0ce/De_Minimist_Impact_Assessment_-_Telecommunications_Infrastructure__PSTI_Bill_.pdf. A specific assessment in relation to 5G rollout was not carried out.

The Act introduced a range of measures intended to optimise the use of existing apparatus and to support network deployment. Most measures are now in force, and the government is committed to implementing all remaining provisions as soon as possible.

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 o strengthening protections from AI-generated CSAM by introducing a statutory duty for all Generative AI developers to (a) complete a risk assessment and (b) mitigate the risks of their products contributing to illegal activity.

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

AI generated child sexual abuse images are illegal material. It is an offence to produce, store or share any material that contains or depicts child sexual abuse, regardless of whether the material depicts a real child or not.

The Online Safety Act places new duties on companies that provide user-to-user services and search services to prevent CSAM appearing on their services, and to have systems in place to remove it quickly when it does.

We also remain committed to introducing targeted rules on companies developing the most powerful AI models to ensure we can realise the benefits of these systems safely.

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 protect children against the risks of generative-AI content on small websites.

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

AI generated content is regulated by the Online Safety Act where it is shared on an in-scope service and constitutes illegal content or content which is harmful to children. Providers who publish pornographic content must protect children from that content, including where it is AI generated.

In recognition of the unique risks that small but high-risk platforms pose to users, Ofcom, the online safety regulator, has established a taskforce to tackle these services. The taskforce’s aim is to proactively identify services, focusing on those posing the most severe risks of harm, and ensure compliance with the Act.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 28458 on Life Sciences: Northern Ireland, what the geographical spread was of the projects that received funding up to the summer of 2024.

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

The Life and Health Sciences Launchpad in Northern Ireland has so far funded 32 business-led projects. These were in the following local authorities:

• Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (1 project)
• Antrim and Newtownabbey (1 project)
• Ards and North Down (1 project)
• Belfast (18 projects)
• Causeway Coast and Glens (1 project)
• Derry City and Strabane (2 project)
• Lisburn and Castlereagh (3 projects)
• Mid Ulster (2 projects)
• Mid and East Antrim (3 projects)

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 help reduce misogynistic content online.

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

The Online Safety Act requires in-scope services to proactively tackle the most harmful illegal content, including illegal misogyny.

Where this type of abuse is not illegal, services likely to be accessed by children must provide safety measures to protect them from harmful and age-inappropriate content and activity, including content which is hateful and abusive. Category 1 services will also need to remove legal misogynistic content, where it is prohibited in their terms of service.

The Act requires Ofcom, the regulator, to publish guidance about protecting women and girls online, which it published in draft for consultation on 25 February.

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 help protect children from (a) deception, (b) bullying, (c) abuse and (d) harmful content online.

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

Our priority is the implementation of the Online Safety Act so children benefit from its protections.

The Act requires services to protect users from illegal content. Companies will also need to assess whether their service is likely to be accessed by children and provide safety measures to protect them from harmful and age-inappropriate content and activity, such as abuse, bullying, and content that promotes eating disorders or self-harm. Measures include using age assurance and changing their algorithms to filter out harmful content.

The illegal content duties are now in effect and the child safety duties will be enforceable by this summer.

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 university-partnered venture capital investment companies outside the Oxford, Cambridge and London triangle; and whether Ministers in his Department have met with those companies.

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

The Government is committed to driving innovation and economic growth across the UK. DSIT Ministers regularly meet with investors in science and technology sectors. Research England’s Connecting Capabilities Fund (CCF) has supported university collaborations, leading to the Northern Gritstone and Midlands Mindforge venture capital funds, and the Northern Accelerator. Innovate UK’s Investor Partnerships programme supports investors like Northern Gritstone and Qantx with R&D funding for their companies. The government supports venture capital through tax reliefs such as the Enterprise Investment Scheme and programmes from the British Business Bank who are an investor in Northern Gritstone. Government continues to assess opportunities to strengthen the UK’s leadership in innovation-led investment.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure that Ofcom publishes details of (a) meetings and (b) correspondence with large social media companies.

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

Under the Online Safety Act Ofcom is the independent regulator for online safety in the UK. In order to carry out its regulatory functions, it is important that Ofcom maintains regular contact with regulated online services, including large social media companies. Ofcom publicly consults on its draft guidance and codes of practice, and many consultation responses are published on its website, including responses from some regulated services. Ofcom is accountable to Parliament and is required to publish an annual report and accounts. Ofcom is also in scope of the Freedom of Information Act.

Found: It is up to DSIT/DHSC and others to innovate new antibiotics, or entirely new technologies that reshape

Found: [accessed 13 Mar 25] 6 Department of Health & Social Care, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

Found: in order to reinvigorate the pipeline. (2) The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT

Found: ● Has DSIT identified the right areas of public services with its initial five ‘kickstarter’ tests and

Found: Correspondence from Permanent Secretary of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT

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

Found: Too few departments are reporting transparently on their algorithm–assisted decision making and DSIT

Found: businesses should be expanded, especially in high- growth sectors like AI, biotech, and fintech. 5.2 A DSIT

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

Found: As part of this, both DSIT and the Scotland Office are committed to harnessing Scotland’s scientific

Found: As part of this, both DSIT and the Scotland Office are committed to harnessing Scotland’s scientific

Found: DSIT before the MoG was 2,200 people, of whom 100 claimed some degree of technical skill.

Found: Your Committee could play a very important part in bringing in DSIT and other officials to look specifically

Found: Your Committee could play a very important part in bringing in DSIT and other officials to look specifically

Found: I am the Minister for Digital Futures and Online Safety in DSIT. Nanyamka Brown: Good afternoon.

Found: From DSIT and the VAWG strategy, we need ways that we equip the first people victims will talk to about

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of launching a review of animal testing in the UK.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to supporting the uptake and development of alternative methods to the use of animals in science.

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, and will likely take many years of scientific and technical advancement and validation to reach this point. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is leading on the delivery of this commitment.

Our current approach is to support and fund the development and dissemination of techniques that replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research (the 3Rs), and to ensure that the UK has a robust regulatory system for licensing animal studies and enforcing legal standards.

In line with the Government’s Manifesto commitment, DSIT is currently engaging with partners from sectors with interests in animal science and on a cross-Government level as to how we will take this commitment forward, including the publishing of a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods. The Government expects to publish this strategy later this year.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he plans to take to protect British businesses against the effects of grey zone attacks on undersea cable communication infrastructure between Taiwan and Europe.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Subsea cables are critical to UK telecommunications digital infrastructure, and we are committed to maintaining and enhancing the security and resilience of that infra- structure. We continue to co-ordinate with HMG partners, particularly DSIT who own subsea cables policy, as well as security partners, the subsea cables industry and international bodies to assess and understand risks to subsea cables.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to take steps to help support older people to use self-checkout kiosks in banks in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Banking has changed significantly in recent years with many customers benefitting from the ease and convenience of remote banking. The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets in Surrey Heath and across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the 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 220 hubs have been announced so far, and over 135 are already open.

The Financial Conduct Authority requires firms to provide a prompt, efficient, and fair service to all of their customers. This includes special considerations for vulnerable customers, such as the elderly and disabled. Additionally, under the Equality Act 2010, banks must make reasonable adjustments to ensure their services are accessible to all.

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.

Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.

Found: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is working to enable the widespread use

Found: We are aware of the ongoing work of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to

Found: BG - Financial, Professional & Business Services Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT

Found: 1039 124 207 214.452197 323 7798 6567 4635 5873 DESNZ - - - - - 2102 - - - - - 2406 - - - - - 4508 DSIT

Found: . • Provide £42 million for three pioneering DSIT-led Frontier AI Exemplars.

Found: . • Provide £42 million for three pioneering DSIT-led Frontier AI Exemplars.

Found: for patients - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 39 01.06.22 CLEAN DHSC Primary Impact Assessment - CLEARED - DSIT

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

Found: 22 March), IBM have agreed to partner with the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT

Found: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) have designed and published a dedicated

Found: and engagement with Taiwanese leadership, including visits and meetings linked to my role as Shadow DSIT

Found: INCA) upon request from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT

Found: non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT