Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the evidential basis is to determine the number of employees required by Ofcom’s Online Safety directorate to provide an evidence-based high level of service to fulfil its duties under the Online Safety Act 2023.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In 2023/24, Ofcom had 189 full-time equivalent posts in the Online Safety Group. This does not include staff who work on online safety in other groups such as legal, enforcement and research. Ofcom’s latest staff numbers will be available as part the Annual Report and Accounts for 2024/25, which will be presented to Parliament.
The government has ensured Ofcom has the funding it needs to deliver online safety regulation effectively, with £72.6 million allocated for online safety spend in 2025/26. This decision followed a business case process that included Ofcom submitting its requirements.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many people work for Ofcom’s Online Safety directorate as of 5 April 2025.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In 2023/24, Ofcom had 189 full-time equivalent posts in the Online Safety Group. This does not include staff who work on online safety in other groups such as legal, enforcement and research. Ofcom’s latest staff numbers will be available as part the Annual Report and Accounts for 2024/25, which will be presented to Parliament.
The government has ensured Ofcom has the funding it needs to deliver online safety regulation effectively, with £72.6 million allocated for online safety spend in 2025/26. This decision followed a business case process that included Ofcom submitting its requirements.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps the Government is taking on protection of the neuro rights of citizens.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Government welcomes the recent reports from the Regulatory Horizons Council and the Information Commissioner's Office, and agrees on the importance of appropriately protecting neurodata. The UK’s data regime already provides enhanced protection for personal neuro-data when it takes the form of biometric, genetic, or health data. The Government is keeping protections under review and will not hesitate to take action in future as needed.
The Government is also actively monitoring threats to UK data, including neuro-data, and will not hesitate to take further action if necessary to protect our national security.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps the Government is taking to help ensure that (a) foreign states and (b) bad actors cannot access people's neuro-data.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Government welcomes the recent reports from the Regulatory Horizons Council and the Information Commissioner's Office, and agrees on the importance of appropriately protecting neurodata. The UK’s data regime already provides enhanced protection for personal neuro-data when it takes the form of biometric, genetic, or health data. The Government is keeping protections under review and will not hesitate to take action in future as needed.
The Government is also actively monitoring threats to UK data, including neuro-data, and will not hesitate to take further action if necessary to protect our national security.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to update employment legislation to protect workers from unauthorised access to their neuro-data.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Government welcomes the recent reports from the Regulatory Horizons Council and the Information Commissioner's Office, and agrees on the importance of appropriately protecting neurodata. The UK’s data regime already provides enhanced protection for personal neuro-data when it takes the form of biometric, genetic, or health data. The Government is keeping protections under review and will not hesitate to take action in future as needed.
The Government is also actively monitoring threats to UK data, including neuro-data, and will not hesitate to take further action if necessary to protect our national security.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to update consumer legislation to protect people from unauthorised access to their neuro-data.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Government welcomes the recent reports from the Regulatory Horizons Council and the Information Commissioner's Office, and agrees on the importance of appropriately protecting neurodata. The UK’s data regime already provides enhanced protection for personal neuro-data when it takes the form of biometric, genetic, or health data. The Government is keeping protections under review and will not hesitate to take action in future as needed.
The Government is also actively monitoring threats to UK data, including neuro-data, and will not hesitate to take further action if necessary to protect our national security.