Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Counter Disinformation Unit enforces the Cabinet Office guidelines on external speakers at civil service events.

The Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) leads HMG’s operational and policy response to understand and counter disinformation and attempts to manipulate the information environment, with the potential for harm to domestic audiences. It helps the Government understand disinformation narratives and trends and does not monitor or provide information on individuals.

The 2022 guidelines on external speakers were developed for all Cross-Government Diversity networks and Cabinet Office Events, and as such do not relate to the work of the CDU