Digital ID: Public Consultation

Debate between Darren Jones and Gavin Williamson

Tuesday 10th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Darren Jones]

My hon. Friend is exactly right to call out the challenge of digital inclusion. We see in the private sector lots of services becoming digital but very little help for the public if they cannot use them. The great opportunity of this programme, as I said in my statement, is that if we can create opportunities in people’s local communities—whether in post offices, libraries, GP surgeries or jobcentres—so that there is someone nearby who can help them if they want help to use these digital systems, that would be a huge advancement on digital inclusion. I hope this programme will help deliver those outcomes.

[Sir Gavin Williamson (Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge) (Con)]

Before I purchase something at the supermarket, I want to know what the price is. The Minister seems to be lacking clarity on how much this is going to cost. Can he give that clarity?

Growing the UK Economy

Debate between Darren Jones and Gavin Williamson

Wednesday 29th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Darren Jones]

My hon. Friend knows that I am not let out of the Treasury often, but when I am I will be delighted to visit. These are classic examples of how, by working together with private investors and local businesses to co-ordinate investment on road junctions, rail, housing developments or even football stadiums, we can get to a point where we can unlock economic growth for people and improve their communities. We are absolutely interested in looking at all those opportunities.

[Sir Gavin Williamson (Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge) (Con)]

What assessment has the Treasury made of whether the increase in employers’ national insurance contributions will increase or decrease business investment?

[Darren Jones]

The right hon. Member is inviting me to speculate on the OBR forecast, which will be presented to the House on 26 March.

Modernising Defence Programme

Debate between Darren Jones and Gavin Williamson

Tuesday 18th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Williamson]

We always look at how we can expand the use of reservists. Their use is critical to what we do in so many of our defence functions, and we should not see them as separate from what our armed forces do; they are absolutely critical and will always be so.

[Darren Jones (Bristol North West) (Lab)]

I declare my interests.

Will the Secretary of State set out what his Department is doing, ideally on a multilateral basis, to ensure the ethical use of autonomous and artificial intelligence systems announced in his statement today?

[Gavin Williamson]

We will be working closely with all our allies to make sure we have the highest standards in the use of autonomous and AI technology going forward, and we will be looking at entering into legal commitments on that.