Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will have discussions with Havering Council on the proposed East Havering Data Centre.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
This is exclusively a planning matter for Havering Council, but I welcome any opportunity to discuss the potential for data centres to accelerate innovation, improve consumers’ experience and drive growth - including with local authorities.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the report by Ipsos MORI entitled Attitudes to animal research in 2018, published by his Department on 24 May 2019, whether he plans to commission updated research on this matter.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government last commissioned a survey on public awareness of, and attitudes towards, the use of animals in scientific research in 2018. This survey was the third in a series started in 2014. No decision has been taken on the future of the survey.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 replace the use of animals in science.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government has committed to partnering with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the requirements for phasing out of animal testing and discussions on this subject are already underway.
It is not yet possible to replace all animal use due to the complexity of biological systems and regulatory requirements for their use.
We recognise that any work to phase out animal testing must be science led, in lock step with partners, and so we will not be setting arbitrary timelines for reducing their use.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what his policy is on future funding of the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In our commitment to accelerate the development, validation, and enhancement of technologies and methodologies aimed at reducing reliance on animal testing in scientific research, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is currently investing £50m for investment over the five-year period up to April 2025 in the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs). In addition, there has been £5m additional funding for NC3Rs for this financial year.
UKRI will also be conducting a thorough strategic review in 2024, followed by a science review, to determine the optimal level of future investment.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when his Department plans to publish the roadmap to phase out the use of animals in testing; who will be involved in development of the roadmap; what the first practical steps of the roadmap will be; and whether he plans to take further steps in addition to the roadmap.
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 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.
We take seriously the importance of this work and recognise that any work to phase out animal testing must be science-led and in lock step with partners. We are currently engaging with partners as to how we will take this commitment forward.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to continue the previous Government’s work on accelerating the (a) development, (b) validation and (c) update of (i) technologies and (ii) methods to reduce reliance on the use of animals in science.
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 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.
We take seriously the importance of this work and recognise that any work to phase out animal testing must be science-led and in lock step with partners. We are currently engaging with partners as to how we will take this commitment forward.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 artificial intelligence projects.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The DSIT Secretary of State is committed to enabling the public sector to better adopt AI safely and in a way that saves people time, and the department’s role as the Digital Centre of Government is critical to that. There is a range of expertise within DSIT to support this ambition, including the Incubator for AI (i.AI), the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO), and Government Digital Service (GDS). The Secretary of State also asked Matt Clifford to draft an AI Action Plan to grow the AI sector and ensure AI can be deployed across the economy to improve people’s lives.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the potential merits of increasing funding for new radiotherapy technologies.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Office for Life Sciences is a joint unit sitting in this Department and the Department for Health and Social Care. It exists to power the government’s health and growth missions and improve patient outcomes.
The Government does not generally ringfence funding for particular areas of research but continues to fund research for innovative radiotherapy approaches through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Since 2021, their Medical Research Council has awarded £15 million for cutting edge approaches such as FLASH photon therapy, and Innovate UK has invested £3.2 million to projects through the Biomedical Catalyst, including nanoparticle enhanced radiotherapy.
In 2023, UKRI invested £32 million in the National Total Body PET Imaging Platform to enhance national capabilities in the use of radioactive tracers.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of Ofcom guidance on the Online Safety Act 2023 on freedom of expression.
Answered by Saqib Bhatti - Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport)
The government recognises the importance of upholding users’ rights to free expression and privacy online. This is why the Online Safety Act 2023 has built strong safeguards for freedom of expression and privacy into the legislative framework. For example, all providers are required to give particular regard to the importance of protecting users’ freedom of expression and privacy rights when implementing measures to comply with their new safety duties. In addition, major online platforms – known as Category 1 services under the Act - will be required to put in place particular safeguards for journalism and content of democratic importance, in recognition of their influence over public discourse.
Ofcom’s public consultation for the illegal content duties closed in February 2024 and organisations such as the Open Rights Group were able to provide feedback on Ofcom’s proposals. As a public authority, Ofcom must act in accordance with its public law duties to act lawfully, rationally and fairly. It is unlawful for Ofcom to act in a way which is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, including with regard to individual’s’ rights to freedom of expression and privacy. Ofcom must abide by these principles when developing its regulatory codes of practice and guidance for services.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the recommendations on the inclusion of (a) human rights and (b) due process principles in Ofcom guidance to companies relating to the Online Safety Act 2023 in the article by The Open Rights Group entitled A dangerous precedent for global censorship, published on 4 March 2024.
Answered by Saqib Bhatti - Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport)
The government recognises the importance of upholding users’ rights to free expression and privacy online. This is why the Online Safety Act 2023 has built strong safeguards for freedom of expression and privacy into the legislative framework. For example, all providers are required to give particular regard to the importance of protecting users’ freedom of expression and privacy rights when implementing measures to comply with their new safety duties. In addition, major online platforms – known as Category 1 services under the Act - will be required to put in place particular safeguards for journalism and content of democratic importance, in recognition of their influence over public discourse.
Ofcom’s public consultation for the illegal content duties closed in February 2024 and organisations such as the Open Rights Group were able to provide feedback on Ofcom’s proposals. As a public authority, Ofcom must act in accordance with its public law duties to act lawfully, rationally and fairly. It is unlawful for Ofcom to act in a way which is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, including with regard to individual’s’ rights to freedom of expression and privacy. Ofcom must abide by these principles when developing its regulatory codes of practice and guidance for services.