Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Bertin Review will consider the differences between the online and offline regulation of pornographic content.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Independent Pornography Review assessed the effectiveness of current pornography legislation, regulation and enforcement. This included considering the difference in regulation for pornography online versus ‘offline’.
The Review has now concluded, and the report has been published. It is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/creating-a-safer-world-the-challenge-of-regulating-online-pornography.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Answer of 15 July 2022 to Question 33838 on Digital Technology and Internet: Disadvantaged, what steps she is taking to help tackle digital exclusion; and whether her Department plans to take steps to help individuals with the cost of personal internet.
Answered by Saqib Bhatti - Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government has been clear that ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age is a key priority and continues to take steps to offer the support needed.
Digital inclusion is a cross-cutting issue that spans social engagement, education, employment, access to services and many more elements of everyday life. Responsibility for relevant policies and activities, including monitoring and evaluation, sit across government.
The Government has worked closely with the telecoms industry to ensure households across the country can access fast, reliable digital infrastructure. Superfast broadband is now available in over 97% of the UK, over 80% of households can access gigabit broadband, and 4G mobile is available to 99% of the population from at least one network provider. The Government is also investing £5 billion through our flagship Project Gigabit programme to bring gigabit broadband to reach hard-to-reach communities.
The Government established a cross-Whitehall ministerial group in response to a recommendation from the House of Lords Communication and Digital Committee’s report on ‘Digital Exclusion’, published in June 2023. The ministerial group aims to drive progress and accountability on digital inclusion priorities across Government.
The group has met twice, in September 2023 and March 2024, with attendance from the Cabinet Office, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Department for Culture, Media & Sport, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Education, and His Majesty's Treasury.
To support those for whom cost may be a barrier, the Government has worked closely with the telecoms industry to ensure market provision of broadband and mobile social tariffs. These low-cost, commercial products are available from 28 different providers, across 99% of the UK and start at just £10 per month.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will take steps to commission research into new models of (a) assessment and (b) support for people with autism.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Gateway to Research lists 50 active Medical Research Council (MRC) projects looking at autism and/or neurodevelopment. There are a further 27 projects funded by Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Innovate UK. These cover a range of research questions from using AI based diagnostics for autism spectrum disorders to optimising technology used on recruitment platforms to meet the needs of neurodiverse applicants.
Autistica, a UK based charity engaged in funding and campaigning for research on autism and related conditions, is receiving £378k through Government support for Early Career Researcher fund.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) damages and (b) legal costs to the Department following legal action by Professor Kate Sang.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
I refer the hon. Member to the opening statement by the Secretary of State at the Lords Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee on 12 March 2024.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
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 merits of requiring all mobile network operators to send regular text messages to customers stating that when they have no signal on their handset they can still seek to place an emergency 999 call.
Answered by Julia Lopez
On a typical handset, when there is no signal from any network, it is not possible to make emergency calls. If there is no signal from your regular mobile network provider, but there is signal from another mobile network provider, a 999 call will automatically roam onto another mobile network free-of-charge.
To improve 4G coverage the Government agreed a deal with the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in March 2020 to deliver the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme. This agreement will see the Government and industry jointly invest over £1 billion to increase 4G mobile coverage throughout the UK to 95% geographic coverage by the end of 2025, underpinned by licence obligations. Part of the programme will deliver new masts in total not-spot areas which will enable calls to 999 to be made through the mobile network for the first time in these areas.
Certain mobile handsets have the capability to use satellite communications via third-party call centres which could allow 999 calls to be made even when a mobile signal isn’t available. This solution however is only available in a small number of handsets and is therefore only available to a small segment of the public.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing funding for the (a) establishment, (b) maintenance and (c) research of (i) data trusts and (ii) other (A) institutions and (B) frameworks for sharing data.
Answered by Julia Lopez
Data intermediaries, including data trusts, have an important role to play in enabling appropriate data use for economic growth, research benefits and societal good.
The introduction of the Smart Data clauses in the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill will encourage the development of data intermediaries by enhancing individuals’ ability to access and share their data simply and securely with third parties.
Many forms of data intermediary, as well as other institutions and frameworks for sharing data, are operating in the UK. These include government-supported secure data environments such as UK Biobank and data sharing platforms such as the Rail Data Marketplace.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
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 the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill on the (a) establishment and (b) use of data trusts as (i) institutions and (ii) frameworks to support data sharing.
Answered by Julia Lopez
Data intermediaries, including data trusts, have an important role to play in enabling appropriate data use for economic growth, research benefits and societal good.
The introduction of the Smart Data clauses in the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill will encourage the development of data intermediaries by enhancing individuals’ ability to access and share their data simply and securely with third parties.
Many forms of data intermediary, as well as other institutions and frameworks for sharing data, are operating in the UK. These include government-supported secure data environments such as UK Biobank and data sharing platforms such as the Rail Data Marketplace.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when Ofcom's review into the transparency of in-contract price rises is due to be published.
Answered by John Whittingdale
Ofcom has stated it expects to publish its review into the transparency of inflation-linked in-contract price rises - alongside research on customers’ experience of price rise contract terms, and consult on any changes that may be needed to their rules - in December 2023.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many life sciences companies were based in the UK in each of the last five years.
Answered by George Freeman
In the five years to 2021, the number of life sciences businesses operating in the UK were as follows: 6,164 in 2017; 6,528 in 2018; 6,489 in 2019; 6,537 in 2020; and 6,548 in 2021.
The Department does not yet hold statistics for 2022 or 2023. Statistics covering 2022 will be published by the Office for Life Sciences on 1 December 2023 in the annual ‘Bioscience and health technology sector statistics’ publication.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with (a) BT and (b) other telecoms providers about promoting social tariffs to providers.
Answered by Paul Scully
My department has regular engagement with telecoms suppliers, including BT, on a range of matters relating to affordability, including social tariff promotion.
In June 2022, DCMS convened a roundtable with leaders of the UK’s major broadband and mobile operators, agreeing a set of industry commitments to support people through the global rise in the cost of living. This includes a commitment from operators to better promote their low-cost social tariff offers to eligible households.
In November 2022, the then Minister for Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure, Julia Lopez MP, chaired a roundtable of broadband and mobile sector CEOs as-well-as leaders from consumer groups to discuss further steps to support customers who may be struggling with their monthly bills, including social tariff promotion.
In addition, we work closely with a range of providers, including BT, as part of our Help for Households campaign to help amplify messaging about the availability of social tariffs.
In January, as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, met with CEOs from broadband and mobile providers to discuss the affordability of services and made clear that they should be doing more to support their customers at this difficult time.