Asked by: Anna Gelderd (Labour - South East Cornwall)
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 poor digital access on levels of financial exclusion among women living in rural areas.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government published its Digital Inclusion Action Plan in February 2025, which outlines the first five actions we are taking over the next year to boost digital inclusion in every corner of the UK, including rural areas. We recognise the financial impact digital exclusion can have on many different groups including women and men living in rural areas.
These will be targeted at local initiatives for boosting digital skills and confidence, widening access to devices and connectivity, and getting support to people in their own communities so everyone can reap the benefits of technology.
More widely, HM Treasury is developing a Financial Inclusion Strategy to address the barriers consumers can face in accessing the products they need. This includes a focus on digital inclusion and access to banking and the Digital Inclusion and Skills Unit in DSIT is working closely with HM Treasury to ensure appropriate coordination.
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring everyone has access to the banking services they need and is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK which will provide cash access and a range of face-to-face banking services.
Asked by: Anna Gelderd (Labour - South East Cornwall)
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 improve digital connectivity in (a) rural and (b) coastal communities.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
We recognise that poor internet access can pose significant challenges for rural and coastal communities. The Government is committed to delivering nationwide gigabit broadband. We now expect this target to be reached by 2032. The government also wants all populated areas to have higher quality standalone 5G by 2030.
Through Project Gigabit, government is delivering fast, reliable broadband to UK premises that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans.
4G geographic coverage from at least one mobile operator has now reached over 95% of the UK landmass due to the Shared Rural Network, and we continue to work with the industry to deliver 4G mobile connectivity to places where there is limited or no coverage.
Asked by: Anna Gelderd (Labour - South East Cornwall)
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 levels of broadband access on the economic development of rural communities.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Digital infrastructure is a powerful driver of economic growth and development. The telecoms services industry contributed around 2.5% to UK real GVA in 2023, up from 0.3% in 2010.
Evidence from the Government’s Superfast programme showed that for every £1 spent on connections to premises left behind by the market, up to £4.57 was generated in economic and social benefits. We expect Project Gigabit to continue to drive local economic growth and development in areas which stand to benefit from the programme.
Building Digital UK also publishes independent evaluations of its programmes at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/building-digital-uk-research-portal
Asked by: Anna Gelderd (Labour - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to maintain the level of financial support for research to achieve the (a) replacement, (b) refinement and (c) reduction of animals in research and (d) develop non-animal alternatives.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is committed to the development of non-animal alternatives. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has a diverse portfolio of investments that support research which can lead to alternatives, such as organ on a chip and computer modelling. They invest £10m annually to the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs). UKRI also supports ‘human-specific’ research, for example a £15m call on Novel human in vitro models of disease with NC3Rs and Wellcome.
The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year.
Asked by: Anna Gelderd (Labour - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has assessed the potential impact of online forums on the purchase of (a) sodium nitrate and (b) other substances for the purpose of suicide by vulnerable individuals; and what steps she is taking to (i) identify and (ii) remove harmful online content.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services, regardless of their size, must prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide content, and children from harmful suicide content. On 9 April, Ofcom launched an investigation into whether the provider of a pro-suicide forum failed to comply with its duties under the Act. This first enforcement action taken by Ofcom demonstrates that harmful suicide forums are a high priority for enforcement.
Asked by: Anna Gelderd (Labour - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment has he made of the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act in tackling forums and websites that promote suicide methods.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services, regardless of their size, must prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide content, and children from harmful suicide content. On 9 April, Ofcom launched an investigation into whether the provider of a pro-suicide forum failed to comply with its duties under the Act. This first enforcement action taken by Ofcom demonstrates that harmful suicide forums are a high priority for enforcement.