Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need (1) to raise awareness of, and (2) to encourage requests by Field Army units for, the rapid trial of small batches of SME-delivered, battlefield-tested equipment through MoD Commercial X, particularly in relation to innovations from Ukraine; and what steps they are taking to clarify the existence of dedicated MoD funding so that such units (1) are confident in their ability to make such requests, and (2) are informed about how those trials are delivered and paid for.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

It is vital we utilise defence as an engine for innovation and growth including investing in novel technologies. With further investment from this Government, innovation will thrive in every region and nation of the United Kingdom.

Drones, including unmanned aerial systems, are integral to the modern way of warfighting, exemplified in the lessons learnt from the war in Ukraine. The Strategic Defence Review announced a doubling in autonomy investment in this Parliament, taking total Defence investment in autonomy to circa £4 billion.

Work to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, including on autonomy and drones, will be prioritised appropriately against the threat as part of the Integrated Force.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the research by the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors indicating that many broadband providers operate without an internal audit function.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government, working with Ofcom, closely monitors the financial health of the telecoms market. Ofcom have powers to request financial information from providers where appropriate.

We recently held a public consultation on proposed updates to the Telecommunications Security Code of Practice, which provides guidance on how public telecoms providers can meet their statutory requirements to secure their networks and services. These include requirements relating to reviews, governance and board responsibilities. Ofcom monitor and enforce these requirements.

In response to the consultation, the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors raised the matter of independent assurance arrangements. We are now carefully reviewing all feedback to the consultation to ensure that any updates to the Code of Practice are appropriate and proportionate.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks to essential services and the wider economy posed by broadband providers' lack of internal audit functions.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government, working with Ofcom, closely monitors the financial health of the telecoms market. Ofcom have powers to request financial information from providers where appropriate.

We recently held a public consultation on proposed updates to the Telecommunications Security Code of Practice, which provides guidance on how public telecoms providers can meet their statutory requirements to secure their networks and services. These include requirements relating to reviews, governance and board responsibilities. Ofcom monitor and enforce these requirements.

In response to the consultation, the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors raised the matter of independent assurance arrangements. We are now carefully reviewing all feedback to the consultation to ensure that any updates to the Code of Practice are appropriate and proportionate.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that broadband providers and telecoms companies establish internal audit functions.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government, working with Ofcom, closely monitors the financial health of the telecoms market. Ofcom have powers to request financial information from providers where appropriate.

We recently held a public consultation on proposed updates to the Telecommunications Security Code of Practice, which provides guidance on how public telecoms providers can meet their statutory requirements to secure their networks and services. These include requirements relating to reviews, governance and board responsibilities. Ofcom monitor and enforce these requirements.

In response to the consultation, the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors raised the matter of independent assurance arrangements. We are now carefully reviewing all feedback to the consultation to ensure that any updates to the Code of Practice are appropriate and proportionate.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on Wednesday 14 January (HL Deb col 1727), what specific plans they have to provide (1) practical, and (2) financial, assistance to the victims of organised waste tipping on private land to support them with the cost and difficulty of removing the waste and cleaning the affected land.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to tackling waste crime and continues to keep under review how best to do this.

It is a long-established policy that landowners are responsible for clearing dumped or abandoned waste from their land.

We continue to work with stakeholders, such as the National Farmers Union (NFU) and local authorities, through the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group to share good practice, including how to prevent fly-tipping on private land. The Environment Agency also conducts communications campaigns around tackling and preventing waste crime, including working through landowner associations such as the NFU or The Country Land and Business Association.

We recognise the financial burden that clearing fly-tipped waste places on landowners. However, central Government generally does not compensate victims of non-violent crime. It is important not to create a perverse incentive for some people to dump, or facilitate the dumping of, waste. However, where there is sufficient evidence, fly-tippers can be prosecuted and, on conviction, a cost order can be made by the court so that a landowner’s costs can be recovered from the perpetrator.