Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications of requiring the use of technology that does not yet exist, or function satisfactorily, in notices under section 121 of the Online Safety Act 2023.

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

Ofcom will set out what technology is required for a service to comply with a Technology Notice under section 121 of the Online Safety Act. That technology must be accredited as meeting minimum standards of accuracy. Ofcom’s consultation on the minimum standards of accuracy closed in March 2025 and the finalised version will be published in due course.

Where a tech solution does not exist in relation to a particular service design, Ofcom will be able to direct companies to use best endeavours to develop or source technology that deals with child sexual exploitation and abuse content.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 19 September 2024 (HL968), why the Privacy Enhancing Technology data protection impact assessment has not been published, and when they plan to publish it.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England has recently completed a substantial update to the suite of Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) relating to the Privacy Enhancing Technology (PET). These updates were necessary to ensure that the DPIAs reflect the latest technical developments and governance requirements.

These comprise: a Technical DPIA; a Local Operational DPIA; and a National Operational DPIA. NHS England is now undertaking the final stages of review and preparation to ensure that these documents meet all publication standards and accessibility requirements. It is anticipated that the updated PET DPIAs will be published in December 2025.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether a decision has been made about the platform that will host the proposed single patient record.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

No final decision has been made about how the single patient record will be delivered.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what meetings ministers and officials have had with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) about (1) the decision to designate Google as having strategic market status in search and search advertising services, and (2) the plan to begin consulting on possible interventions later this year.

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

Ministers and officials regularly meet with the Competition and Markets Authority to discuss key policy issues, including the CMA’s digital markets work. Close collaboration between Government and the CMA is crucial for delivering the agenda of this Government. As the UK’s independent competition authority, the CMA is responsible for all digital markets decisions, including on designations and interventions.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what meetings ministers and officials have had with representatives of Google about (1) the decision of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to designate Google as having strategic market status in search and search advertising services, and (2) the CMA's plan to begin consulting on possible interventions later this year.

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

Ministers and officials have met with representatives of Google to discuss a range of topics, including the Competition and Markets Authority’s digital markets work. Such meetings are important for the exchange of views and the development of policy. As the UK’s independent competition authority, the CMA is responsible for all digital markets decisions, including on designations and interventions.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the NHS Federated Data Platform uptake and benefits, updated on 30 October, how many of the 563,239 people removed from the waiting list were removed for the reason of (1) receiving treatment, (2) improved conditions, (3) opting for alternative care, (4) returning to general practice for primary care, (5) returning to optometry for primary care, (6) returning to pharmacy for primary care, (7) returning to primary care not otherwise specified, and (8) other reasons not otherwise specified.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Federated Data Platform’s referral to treatment validation tool supports National Health Service staff to better manage the waiting lists of patients who have been referred for non-urgent elective care.

The Department does not hold the data required to detail the breakdown of reasons patients were removed from the waiting lists as this is patient-level data which is held by trusts themselves in their electronic patient records.

Waiting list validation is a core part of providers’ management of waiting lists which involves ensuring patients’ records are accurate and up to date, that patients still want their treatment, and that they have opportunities to update their clinical team about changes in their condition or relevant circumstances.

This ensures providers have an accurate understanding of the true size of their waiting list, whilst helping minimise missed or cancelled appointments and ensuring the most effective use of clinicians’ time.

Waiting list validation is a well-established component for the effective management of waiting lists, with detailed guidance available for trusts, including safeguards to ensure patients are not incorrectly removed from waiting lists. NHS guidance states there “must be agreement from a clinician before any patient is returned to the referrer”. Any patient removed should receive a letter that would also be sent to their general practitioner.