Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the total (a) cost of running, (b) number of staff employed and (c) number of people monitored by the National Security Online Information Team was in each year since 2020; and what the reasons for monitoring those people were in each year since 2020.

The National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT) works to identify information threats by analysing narratives and trends from publicly available information online, around topics or events where ministers agree there is a high risk to UK audiences. This does not include the monitoring of individuals.

It is not appropriate for me to share details of the NSOIT’s resourcing as this information could give hostile actors insights into UK capabilities.