Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of mandatory digital ID on minority groups.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government has announced plans for a new digital ID to be available to UK citizens and legal residents aged 16 and over. Employers will be required to conduct digital right to work checks using the new digital ID by the end of this parliament, but it will not be mandatory for other purposes.
The Government will deliver a comprehensive inclusion programme to help ensure everyone eligible is able to access the new digital ID, including minority groups. We expect that groups that currently struggle to prove their identity, whether it’s due to the cost of passports or other reasons, will benefit from the opportunity to access free digital ID.
The Government will launch a public consultation on the new digital ID by the end of the year, setting out the proposed approach in more detail and seeking views on this. This will include the proposed approach to inclusion.
The Government will work closely with expert stakeholders from a range of organisations to make the programme as effective and inclusive as possible.
Following the Machinery of Government changes of 23/10/2025 policy responsibility now sits with the Cabinet Office.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the mandatory digital ID system will be (a) developed and (b) operated by third parties.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government has announced plans for a new digital ID for all UK citizens and legal residents aged 16 and over. Employers will be required to conduct digital right to work checks using the new digital ID by the end of this parliament, but it will not be mandatory for other purposes.
We expect the programme to be designed, built and run by in-house Government teams, not outsourced to external suppliers. In the event any specialist external services or expertise are procured to support the delivery of the new digital ID system, this will be subject to all the usual competitive processes to ensure transparency, and value for the taxpayer.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the press release entitled US-UK pact will boost advances in drug discovery, create tens of thousands of jobs and transform lives, published on 16 September 2025, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) families will get access to cleaner, more reliable energy, (b) British consumers will be more protected from international fossil fuel price hikes and (c) British workers will benefit from high-paying jobs unlocked by these projects.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In September 2025, we announced the landmark UK-US Technology Prosperity Deal which will help turbocharge the Government’s nuclear and economic growth ambitions. This deal will cut the time it takes to build projects in both our countries, as well as opening the door to major new deals between UK and US companies.
Families and businesses across Britain continue to pay a heavy price for our exposure to fossil fuel markets controlled by dictators like Putin. Nuclear has a central role in taking back control of our energy so we can protect our country and bring down bills for good. That is why earlier this year the government announced the biggest expansion of nuclear in half a century - delivering historic public investment in Sizewell C, fusion energy, and the UK’s first small modular reactors, built by Rolls - Royce. This is the biggest investment in renewable energy, which is part of our Clean Energy Superpower mission, jobs, investment, growth for Britain, fighting for working people to deliver a better future.
The Technology Prosperity Deal will see greater opportunities through investment and rollout of AI infrastructure in both countries, creating jobs and driving growth. For example, the new AI Growth Zone in the North East will see billions of pounds worth of investment, skills training and jobs funnelled into the region. In addition, it will develop revolutionary quantum computers and speed up the deployment of this technology which will boost healthcare, protect citizens and create highly skilled jobs.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what her planned timetable is for the Gov.uk OneLogin system to re-attain DVS trustmark accreditation.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In April 2025, GOV.UK One Login’s Trust Framework certification was suspended due to a supply chain issue where one third party allowed their certification to lapse. We are working closely with the supplier and our Conformity Assessment Body to resolve this issue and regain certification as soon as possible.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of mandatory digital ID in tackling illegal immigration.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Digital ID programme is part of a broader strategy to tackle illegal immigration. By making it harder for people without the right to work to gain employment, the government plans to reduce incentives for unlawful entry.
Mandating digital ID for right to work checks will strengthen our current approach by:
o Acting as a deterrent to would-be migrants hoping to work in the UK illegally.
o Ensuring consistency and simplifying the checks that employers must carry out, making it easier for UK citizens and legal residents to demonstrate they have the right to work.
o Removing the reliance on physical documents in the UK, making it harder for forged documents to be used as proof of right to work.
The Government will start a public consultation on the new digital ID by the end of the year, and has begun engaging with several key stakeholders already.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to recommence arms sales to Israel.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We welcome the news that a deal has been reached on the first stage of President Trump's peace plan for Gaza - it is a moment of profound relief, particularly for the hostages, their families and the civilian population of Gaza.
The ceasefire agreement must now be implemented in full, alongside which we will continue to keep all export licences under close review in line with our robust Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.
We will work to support the full implementation of the peace plan.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many F-35 foreign military sales have been made by country.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of the F-35 are managed by the Joint Program Office. There are 12 F-35 FMS customers who between them, are currently planning to procure 579 F-35 aircraft.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the original expenditure on the F-35 programme was from his Department.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
All of the UK expenditure on the F-35 programme has come from the Ministry of Defence.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the press release entitled US-UK pact will boost advances in drug discovery, create tens of thousands of jobs and transform lives, published on 16 September 2025, whether her Department has undertaken an impact assessment for the projected (a) water and (b) energy usage for the data centres announced.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Developers are responsible for undertaking environmental impact assessments for new data centres, including assessments of water and energy usage. As part of the criteria for hosting an AI Growth Zone (AIGZ), applicants must demonstrate access to sufficient water resources to support at least 500MW of AI infrastructure. This includes written confirmation from the relevant water supplier detailing volumes available, infrastructure requirements, and wastewater discharge plans.
DSIT are working closely with DESNZ to ensure AI energy demand aligns with future energy planning and ensure long-term sustainability.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department undertook an environmental impact assessment for the building of new data centres before the announcement of the Tech Prosperity Deal on 16 September 2025.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Developers are responsible for carrying out environmental impact assessments for new data centres. As part of our criteria for hosting major data centres, such as in AI Growth Zones (AIGZ), we set a minimum requirement of at least 500MW of energy capacity by 2030; 100 acres of developable land; and support from local planning authorities.
Applicants are also required to demonstrate positive local impact, including access to low-carbon energy sources, potential for regeneration, and alignment with local planning priorities.