Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department (a) has made an assessment of trends in the number of cyber-security roles off-shored to overseas contractors and (b) holds data on the (i) number of roles affected and (ii) financial value of that market.

Answered by Saqib Bhatti

The UK cyber security sector is worth £10.5 billion, up 3% since last year, and employs over 58,000 people, having generated an additional 5,300 jobs in the past year. The government's annual cyber security sectoral analysis shows employment in the UK cyber security sector has risen each year since the government began publishing the data in 2018.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his oral answer of 25 April 2024, whether the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs has recused himself from any aspects of his role.

Answered by John Glen - Shadow Paymaster General

Under the terms of the Ministerial Code, Ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or could reasonably be perceived to arise, between their ministerial position and their private interests, financial or otherwise.

There is an established regime in place for the declaration and management of interests held by ministers. This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any potential or perceived conflicts of interest. The Foreign Secretary has declared his interests in line with this process. Those interests judged, by the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests, to be relevant to his ministerial role have been published in the List of Ministers’ Interests, which is available on GOV.UK.

As set out in the Ministerial Code, it is the personal responsibility of each Minister to decide whether and what action is needed to avoid a conflict or the perception of a conflict, taking account of advice received from their Permanent Secretary and the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ interests.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has had recent discussions with UK-based companies on trends in the level of cyber security jobs moved abroad.

Answered by Saqib Bhatti

Ministers engage regularly with UK cyber security companies to understand employment trends. This includes engagement through visits and forums such as the Cyber Growth Partnership and the National Cyber Advisory Board. The government's annual cyber security sectoral analysis reviews the growth and health of the sector, showing employment in the UK has risen each year since the government began publishing the data in 2018. Currently, the UK cyber security sector employs over 58,000 people, having generated an additional 5,300 jobs in the past year alone.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) knives and (b) other similar weapons were taken off prisoners at HMP Parc in the last six months.

Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice

Data on finds for April 2023 onwards is subject to future publication. Data to March 2024 will be released on 25th July, in the 23/24 HMPPS Annual Digest.

Figures for the number of finds within prison custody, including finds of weapons, are published once per year on a financial year basis in the HMMPS Annual Digest: HMPPS Annual Digest, April 2022 to March 2023 - GOV.UK, specifically in tables 8.2b, 8.3 and 8.4 of this link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64c143b41e10bf000e17cf9e/8.__Finds.ods.

HMPPS continues to work extensively with G4S and is closely overseeing the prison to improve safety and reduce harm. All establishments are required to have a safety strategy in place, which includes actions to address violence. HMPPS remains committed to providing a safe, decent and secure environment for all committed to our care.

Found: Resolved , That Ashley Dalton, Gareth Davies, Jill Mortimer and Nick Smith be discharged from the Committee

Found: Jeremy Quin (Conservative, Horsham) (added 11 Dec 2023; removed 18 Mar 2024) 0 of 15 (0.0%) Nick