Asked by: Andrew Bridgen (Independent - North West Leicestershire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make a cost benefit analysis of the introduction of direct democracy.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy whereby, through general elections, voters are entitled to elect an MP to represent them in the House of Commons. Parliament is responsible for making legislation and has, on occasion, made provision for specific issues to be considered by the electorate through referendums.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will commission a report on the potential impact of AI on (a) democracy and (b) elections.
Answered by Saqib Bhatti - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government takes the threat disinformation and AI digitally manipulated content poses very seriously.
We have already seen examples of AI-driven election interference across the globe targeting elected leaders and seeking to influence democratic debate. To mitigate these risks, as part of the Defending Democracy Taskforce, DSIT is working across government to ensure we are ready to respond to risks to the UK’s democratic processes.
Asked by: Lord Strathcarron (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what topics the National Security Online Information Team is currently monitoring.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
NSOIT’s role is to tackle the greatest national security risks facing the UK from mis and disinformation. It specifically looks at threats posed by foreign states, risks to elections and risks arising from the use of AI and deepfakes. This remit is kept under regular review by DSIT’s ministers.
Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether (a) he and (b) the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (i) have made and (ii) plan to make representations to their counterparts in Georgia on the treatment of British and international NGOs ahead of elections in the context of the introduction of the foreign agents bill in that country.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The UK is committed to supporting a vibrant civil society in Georgia, which is an essential attribute of a healthy democracy. I [Minister for Europe] discussed this and a range of other issues with the Georgian Ambassador on 17 April and 14 May. In my statement of 14 May, I called on the Georgian Government to withdraw the law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, and also noted my deep concerns regarding the orchestrated intimidation of demonstrators in Tbilisi. Our Ambassador in Tbilisi has also consistently made our concerns clear to the Georgian authorities, most recently to the Prime Minister on 22 April and President on 4 May.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an estimate of the number of UK veterans who were turned away from polling stations on 2 May after attempting to use their Veterans ID Card as voter ID.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 24794 on 13 May 2024.
Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether (a) he and (b) the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (i) have made and (ii) plan to make representations to their counterparts in Georgia on ensuring free and fair elections in that country.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The UK is committed to supporting Georgia to hold elections that meet international standards. During his March 2023 visit to Georgia, the former Foreign Secretary pledged £500,000 to support election monitoring in Georgia, including £70,000 to support the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights mission ahead of elections expected in October 2024. The former Minister for Europe discussed elections with then Georgian Prime Minister Gharibashvili during his visit to Tbilisi on 21 November 2023.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Streatham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, which topics she has approved for sustained monitoring by the National Security Online Information Team.
Answered by Saqib Bhatti - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
NSOIT remit and function is to tackle the greatest national security risks facing the UK from mis and disinformation. It is specifically tasked with looking at threats posed by foreign states, risks to elections and understanding how AI and deepfakes can be used by hostile actors to spread mis and disinformation narratives which are aimed at UK audiences. This remit is kept under regular review.
Asked by: Lord Wasserman (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what arrangements they have made to provide training to newly elected Police and Crime Commissioners.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office has provided a grant to the APCC for 2023/24 and 2024/25 for a programme of work that includes the development and delivery of a comprehensive induction programme for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) following the elections in May.
The programme will cover the fundamentals of the role, working with and getting the best out of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, establishing effective relationships with the Chief Constable and the force, financial management, commissioning and influencing at the national level.
Each Office of Police and Crime Commissioner will also deliver bespoke programmes, focusing on the local needs of newly elected PCCs.
Asked by: Lord Wasserman (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether Police and Crime Commissioners who are defeated in the forthcoming elections are entitled to payments for winding up their offices similar to those paid to MPs; and if so, how are those payments calculated.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Police and Crime Commissioners are not currently entitled to any winding up payments, or a loss of office payment, if they lose their seat at an election.
Asked by: Lord Wasserman (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether Police and Crime Commissioners who are defeated in the forthcoming elections are entitled to 'loss of office payments' similar to MPs; and if so, what is the size of those payments.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Police and Crime Commissioners are not currently entitled to any winding up payments, or a loss of office payment, if they lose their seat at an election.