theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1394
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1394

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Mobile Market Review will include a comprehensive national audit of telecoms sites covering (a) site type, (b) ownership, (c) legal status, (d) deployment status, (e) notices to quit, and (f) site removals to (i) help understand the evolution of mobile infrastructure and (ii) inform future policy decisions. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Mobile Market Review (MMR) will consider sector-wide investment challenges and technological innovations across the mobile sector and the impact these have on investment in widespread high-quality connectivity over the next decade. It will assess what more Government can do to ensure the policy and regulatory framework supports innovation and investment over the long-term.

The Electronic Communications Code and a national audit of telecoms sites is not within scope of the Review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1395

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 23 September 2025 to Question 76223 on Project Gigabit: Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire, whether his Department has made a comparative assessment of the number of premises without access to gigabit-capable broadband in (a) Inverness, Skye, and West Ross-shire constituency with (b) the national average. \p Kanishka Narayan: According to the independent website ThinkBroadband.com, 68% of premises in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency and 89% of UK premises can access gigabit-capable broadband.

As per the answer to question 76223, the Open Market Review process in Scotland is carried out by the Scottish Government. It will have the most up to date information on the hon. Member’s constituency.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1396

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 23 September 2025 to Question 76224 on Broadband: Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire, whether his Department has made a comparative assessment of the number of households with copper-based broadband connections in (a) Inverness, Skye, and West Ross-shire constituency with (b) the national average. \p Kanishka Narayan: As stated in answer to question 76224, we estimate 18,540 households (35%) in the Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency are reliant on copper-based broadband. Using data from the same source (Ofcom’s Connected Nations 2025 Spring Update), we estimate 33% of residential properties in Scotland and 26% of residential properties in the UK are reliant on copper-based broadband connections. Most of these premises may also have recourse to connectivity through fixed wireless access.

These figures are accurate as of January 2025.

Figures for copper-based connections include broadband delivered by mixed technologies such as gigabit capable coaxial cable, fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC), as well as solely copper-based technologies such as ADSL.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1397

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 23 September 2025 to Question 76225 on Mobile Phones: Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire, whether his Department has made a comparative assessment of the number of not-spot areas in (a) Inverness, Skye, and West Ross-shire constituency with (b) the rest of the UK. \p Kanishka Narayan: The regulator, Ofcom, publishes data that allows for this comparison to be drawn. In Ofcom’s Connected Nations Spring Update, published on 8 May 2025, it is reported that approximately 24% of the constituency of Inverness, Skye and West Ross-Shire has no 4G geographic coverage from any mobile network operator (MNO). This compares to approximately 4% of the UK landmass not having any 4G geographic coverage from any MNO. Similarly, while around 20% of premises in the constituency lack 5G coverage outside from any MNO, approximately 4% of UK premises lack 5G coverage outside from any MNO.

A further update to this data is expected to be published later this year, providing the latest mobile network coverage data, including at a national and Westminster Constituency level.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1398

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure that rural households are offered appropriate mitigation measures before being switched from analogue to digital telephone services. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Government is committed to ensuring that any risks arising from the industry-led migration of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated for all customers across the UK.

The Government has published guidance for communication providers on providing vulnerable customers with supported journeys where necessary. This includes customers who are landline dependent, perhaps due to living in rural locations with less mobile connectivity. Communication providers have committed in the Non-Voluntary Migrations Checklist that these customers will be provided with a battery back-up unit for use in case of a power cut.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1399

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure that the vulnerability registers maintained by energy providers are shared with telecommunications providers to prioritise additional support for vulnerable customers during the Public Switched Telephone Network migration. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Government is committed to ensuring that vulnerable people are identified and appropriately supported during the Public Switched Telephone Network migration. For legal and data protection reasons, data on vulnerable people from energy providers cannot be shared with communication providers. Instead, communication providers committed in the Non-Voluntary Migrations Checklist to sign data sharing agreements with local authorities to identify vulnerable people.

In addition, BT and Virgin Media funded, with government support, a national communications campaign to encourage vulnerable people to self-identify. Communication providers have also used data from alarm receiving centres, alongside their individual/standard approaches to identifying vulnerable customers via outreach.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1400

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on the resilience of mobile masts serving rural communities to prolonged power outages. \p Kanishka Narayan: Whilst telecommunications services are generally resilient, they can be disrupted, and we recognise the impact that prolonged power cuts can have, especially on rural communities. In December 2023, Ofcom launched a public Call for Input on the power back-up at mobile access sites across the UK. They published an update on their work in February this year, confirming they are completing further analysis to determine the appropriate and proportionate measures that mobile operators should put in place. The Department has supported this work and looks forward to its conclusions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1401

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment she has made of the level of compliance by government departments with UK General Data Protection Regulation. \p Ian Murray: All departments are controllers of the personal data they hold and are individually responsible for demonstrating compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation. Under the same legislation, all departments are required to appoint a data protection officer (DPO), who are responsible to measure compliance. Government is taking concrete action led by the Government Digital Service in DSIT working with the Government Security Group in the Cabinet Office and the National Cyber Security Centre to improve data protection across government in a broad range of areas, including strengthening policies and placing greater emphasis on handling personal data securely in our training and communications.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1402

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what estimate she has made of the number of households that will lose the ability to make emergency calls during a power cut following the switch to digital landlines. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Government is committed to ensuring any risks arising from the industry-led migration of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated for all customers. No household should be left without means to contact emergency services in the event of a power cut following the PSTN migration.

In December 2023 and November 2024, major communication providers signed and agreed the safeguards in the PSTN Charter and Non-Voluntary Migrations Checklist, including providing vulnerable customers with free battery back-up devices for power cuts. Ofcom General Conditions state that these devices should last for a minimum of one hour, but in practice many providers issue units that provide 4-7 hours of battery life.

In December 2023, Ofcom launched a public Call for Input on the power back-up at mobile access sites. Ofcom published an update on this work in February 2025, confirming they are completing further analysis to determine the appropriate and proportionate measures that mobile operators should put in place.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1403

Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what plans she has to review the threshold for eligibility criteria for the Higher Education Innovation Fund. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Government has no current plans to review the threshold for eligibility for the Higher Education Innovation Fund. The new eligibility criteria and threshold were recently developed and published in May 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1404

Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has had recent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for the national semiconductor strategy. \p Kanishka Narayan: Semiconductors have been confirmed by the UK government as one of six priority frontier technologies in the recently published Industrial Strategy Digital and Technologies sector plan. During the development of the Industrial Strategy, the Department met regularly with HM Treasury and the Department for Business and Trade to discuss how to best support the frontier technologies, including semiconductors.

This led to several announcements including £19 million for a new UK Semiconductor Centre to coordinate the sector and act as a “front door” for international cooperation, £35 million towards a UK-wide skills programme to grow the talent pipeline, and £25 million for two new “Innovation and Knowledge Centres” that will enable researchers to work with industry to commercialise research in emerging semiconductor technologies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

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Sonia Kumar:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has made an assessment of (a) the prevalence of shadow banning on social media platforms and (b) its potential impact on freedom of expression and online transparency. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Online Safety Act ensures accountability for tech companies for the safety of their users while upholding freedom of expression online. The Act does not prevent adults from seeking out legal content.

The Act requires the largest services to have clear and accessible Terms of Service, setting out what kinds of legal content for adults they do not accept and in what circumstances they may ban or suspend a user. These services are required to apply these terms consistently and transparently.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1406

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help increase the level of funding for the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector for clinical trials to (a) optimise existing treatments and (b) support innovation in repurposed drugs for paediatric brain cancer. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology invests approximately £200 million into cancer research annually via UK Research and Innovation. In parallel, the Department of Health and Social Care funds cancer research via the National Institute for Health and Care Research, investing £133 million in 2023/24.

The government is supporting commercial clinical research through the Commercial Research Delivery Networks as part of the voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth Investment Programme. Government investment and infrastructure can be used to optimise existing treatments and support innovation in drug repurposing. The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will also detail plans for improving care across all cancer types, including paediatric brain cancers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

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Maya Ellis:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to increase the recruitment of parents in the AI and data science sector. \p Kanishka Narayan: Government recognises the importance of diversifying the AI talent pool, and we will support this goal this through the design and delivery of our skills and talent programmes.

DSIT is standing up the new TechFirst programme that will reach 1 million young people across the UK with AI and tech educational opportunities. This will also support more of our most promising home talent into scholarship and PhD routes that they would not otherwise have accessed.

To further strengthen the UK’s AI skills base we are launching the prestigious AI Spärck scholarships and are expanding the Turing AI Fellowships. We are committed to ensuring that these programmes offer opportunities to a diverse range of participants.

UKRI is the primary funder of data science research and innovation in the UK. They required to show how they will ensure diversity of recruitment and support inclusion within their operations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1408

Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to monitor delivery of partnerships under the Tech Prosperity Deal. \p Kanishka Narayan: As set out in the UK-US Tech Prosperity Deal’s public MoU, the UK and US intend to establish and convene a Ministerial-Level Working Group within six months of the MoU becoming operative, which will serve as a strategic forum to guide bilateral cooperation, set priorities and oversee the implementation of joint initiatives agreed. The UK and US will then meet annually to continue to assess progress and determine the scope and future of collaborative programmes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1409

Maya Ellis:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to increase the recruitment of women in the AI and data science sector. \p Kanishka Narayan: Government recognises the importance of diversifying the AI talent pool and we will support this goal this through the design and delivery of our skills and talent programmes.

DSIT is standing up the new TechFirst programme that will reach 1 million young people across the UK with AI and tech educational opportunities. This will also support more of our most promising home talent into scholarship and PhD routes that they would not otherwise have accessed.

We support initiatives such as the AI and Data Science Conversion Courses, which have successfully attracted a higher proportion of women than comparable STEM programmes.

To further strengthen the UK’s AI skills base we are launching the prestigious AI Spärck scholarships and are expanding the Turing AI Fellowships. We are committed to ensuring that these programmes offer opportunities to a diverse range of participants.

UKRI is the primary funder of data science research and innovation in the UK. They required to show how they will ensure diversity of recruitment and support inclusion within their operations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1410

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what comparative assessment she has made of the level of broadband coverage in (a) the UK and (b) Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency has good broadband coverage that is comparable to UK wide coverage.

According to the independent website ThinkBroadband.com, approximately 89% of UK premises have access to gigabit-capable broadband (of 1000 Mbps or faster) and 98% superfast (30 Mbps or faster), this is compared to around 89% and 98% respectively for premises in the Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1411

Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help improve mobile phone signal in (a) Yeovil constituency and (b) other rural communities. \p Kanishka Narayan: In Ofcom’s Connected Nations Spring Update, published on 8 May 2025, it is reported that 4G is available across 96% of the Yeovil constituency from all four mobile network operators (MNOs), while 5G is available outside 97% of premises in the constituency from at least one operator.

Our ambition is for all populated areas, including rural areas, to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. Government continues to work closely with the MNOs, ensuring that we have the right policy and regulatory framework in place to support investment into mobile networks and competition in the market. This includes removing barriers to deployment where they exist.

We also continue to work with the MNOs to deliver the Shared Rural Network to boost 4G mobile coverage in rural communities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1412

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether Ofcom plans to (a) measure and (b) report on the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act 2023 for tackling online child grooming. \p Kanishka Narayan: Monitoring and evaluation are key to understanding how effective the online safety regime is. The Government and Ofcom are actively monitoring the regime’s impact through a programme of evaluation work.

This work will track the effect of the online safety regime over time and feed into a statutory Post Implementation Review of the Online Safety Act. The review will assess the performance of the legislation against its primary objectives, including how the online safety regime has protected children online.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1413

Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what estimate her Department has made of the value of research and development projects to be launched under the Tech Prosperity Deal in the next 12 months. \p Kanishka Narayan: During the unveiling of the UK-US Technology Prosperity Deal in September 2025, over £31 billion worth of investments and partnerships into the UK were unveiled. These will focus on building new data centres and growing AI start-ups, cutting edge tech as well as developing advanced quantum computers.

In the accompanying MoU, the UK and US committed to collaborate on further initiatives across AI, quantum and nuclear technologies. We are still in the process of scoping out these collaborations with US counterparts; it is too early to comment on their value.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1414

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has had recent discussions with representatives of the creative industries on a potential copyright and AI framework. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Government will continue to engage extensively with stakeholders on copyright and AI. This includes establishing a stakeholder working group to inform the development of copyright and AI policy.

This work commenced over the Summer, where three initial meetings were convened with representatives of the creative, media and AI sectors, by the Secretaries of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Information relating to the stakeholder working group will be published on Gov.uk, which will include further details and a list of working group members.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1415

Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the Online Safety Act on people accessing health and sobriety apps. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Online Safety Act requires user-to-user and search services to take proportionate steps to tackle illegal content – and protect children from harmful content – on their services. The Act does not prevent adults from seeking out legal content including health content, and it is not about specific applications.

The regulator Ofcom will instead look at the systems and processes that in-scope services have in place for tackling illegal content and protecting children. There are also protections against the ‘over removal’ of content, where platforms take down content they should leave on their sites.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1416
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1416

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2025 to Question 75352 on Quantum Technology, where the funding for the adoption of quantum computers is being spent. \p Kanishka Narayan: As part of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy the Government is allocating £670 million to advance our quantum computing mission, which includes 10-year investment for the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), to drive the adoption of quantum computing.

Starting next year, funding will be available to advance a range of activities including building technical capabilities and improving access to quantum computing services.

The 10-year funding for the NQCC will support for their flagship work on adoption, which enables applications discovery, supports skills development, and provides opportunities for networking.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on sovereign AI capability through public sector procurement contracts since 10 September 2025. \p Kanishka Narayan: Ministers and officials regularly meet with their counterparts in other departments to discuss important matters, such as sovereign AI capability and procurement policy

The Digital Commercial Centre of Excellence, established earlier this year following the publication by DSIT of ‘A blueprint for modern digital government’, plays an important role in shaping best practice in relation to technology procurement policy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

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Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the level of hateful language targeting MPs on (a) X and (b) other social media platforms. \p Kanishka Narayan: Illegal abuse is completely unacceptable. The Online Safety Act requires services to prevent and remove illegal content online, including illegal anonymous abuse and hate speech. The Act also introduced the threatening communications offence, which captures communications which convey a threat of serious harm or death.

Category 1 services will be required to remove content that is prohibited in their terms of service and provide users access to tools which reduce exposure to content from non-verified users. Users will also have increased control over the content they see, including hate-inciting content.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1419

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 17 September 2025 to Question 76118 on Digital Technology: Older People, what recent steps her Department has taken to help tackle the impact of digital exclusion on elderly people. \p Kanishka Narayan: Tackling digital exclusion, which disproportionately impacts certain demographics including older people, is a priority for Government.

That is why we published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan which outlines the first five actions we are taking over the next year on digital inclusion. One of these actions was to launch the £9.5mn Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund to support and expand local community initiatives to get people online, which we did in August. All funded projects will support at least one of the focus demographic groups, which includes older people. Applications will be notified of the outcome in late October, as outlined in the key dates section of the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund - GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to page 34 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published on 24 June 2025, what recent progress she has made on negotiating a new science and technology partnership with the US. \p Kanishka Narayan: During President Donald Trump’s State Visit in September 2025, the Government announced a landmark Technology Prosperity Deal (TPD), in the form of an MoU, which commits the UK and US to collaborate in areas such as AI, nuclear energy and quantum technologies. This partnership will build our capabilities to solve some of the greatest challenges we face today, driving investment and expertise between our leading science and growth hubs, delivering cheap, reliable energy and creating new high skilled jobs.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1421
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1421

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to page 117 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on ensuring that defence requirements are reflected in cross‑Government efforts to deliver resilient space‑based Positioning, Navigation and Timing systems. \p Kanishka Narayan: Ministers meet regularly as required to discuss space policy issues, including through the Space Ministerial Forum which includes MOD. MOD continue to work closely with the DSIT National PNT Office who lead on the delivery of the cross-government Policy Framework for Greater Position, Navigation, and Timing Resilience, ensuring that, where appropriate, Defence requirements are reflected in national programmes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has had recent discussions with Ofcom on (a) charges and (b) penalties for mobile users changing provider. \p Ian Murray: Government engages with Ofcom, the independent regulator for communication services, regularly on relevant consumer issues. Under Ofcom’s General Conditions, providers must not impose undue barriers to switching. Consumers can also switch mobile networks via text message.

Ofcom’s rules also require providers to ensure switching is authorised and transparent. These protections aim to support consumer choice and competition.

DSIT continues to monitor market practices and supports Ofcom’s role in enforcing fair and accessible switching processes across the communications sector.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1423

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if her Department will issue guidance to businesses to protect against cyber-attacks. \p Kanishka Narayan: The government has written to Chairs and CEOs of the largest UK companies and asked them to better identify and protect themselves from cyber threats by making cyber a board-level priority by using the Cyber Governance Code, signing up to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Early Warning service, and requiring Cyber Essentials in supply chains. These actions are relevant to all businesses, who can also help protect themselves by using the wide range of free advice, training and tools available on the NCSC website, including the check your cyber security tool and the Cyber Action Toolkit for small businesses.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help support small and medium-sized enterprises to meet data protection obligations. \p Ian Murray: The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 included several provisions aimed at simplifying the data protection legislation to make it easier to navigate for organisations of all sizes. We are working to commence the measures in the months ahead.

The ICO is the statutory authority responsible for supporting organisations to comply with their obligations under the data protection legislation. To help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) comply, the ICO provides a wide range of practical resources on its website. These include guidance on lawful data processing, templates for privacy notices, checklists for compliance, and self-assessment tools.

As part of the ICO’s growth commitments announced in March 2025, the ICO will also launch later this year its SME Data Essentials programme, offering free training to small businesses on compliance with data protection legislation. This will strengthen compliance and reduce costs, enabling SMEs to grow their businesses while building greater trust with customers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many organisations have been investigated by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for breaches of data protection law in each of the last three years. \p Ian Murray: Over the past two years, in relation to data breaches of data protection law, the ICO took informal action on 12,496 occasions, initiated 452 investigations, and issued two formal regulatory actions in response to personal data breaches. For data protection complaints, which may also be related to data breaches, the ICO took informal action on 14,064 occasions, identified 7,518 infringements, initiated nine formal investigations, and issued five formal regulatory actions. Figures are based on closed cases and retained for two years in line with ICO’s data retention policy, which allows the ICO to retain data for statistical purposes for two years.

The ICO publish actions taken on its website, including monetary penalties, enforcement notices, undertakings, prosecutions and reprimands they have issued. Under the Data (Use and Access) Act (DUAA) 2025, the ICO must also produce an annual report to Parliament detailing its enforcement activities, strengthening transparency and accountability.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what research programmes the Advanced Research and Invention Agency is conducting in Antarctica. \p Kanishka Narayan: As part of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency’s (ARIA) ‘Scoping Our Planet’ Opportunity Space, ARIA is funding two research projects in Antarctica.

The first project aims to assess the role of ocean mixing on Antarctic ice melt and sea level rise. The second project seeks to better understand how glacial meltwater is exported from the Antarctic glacial margins to the open ocean.

More information on ARIA’s funded projects can be found on their website.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1427

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the UK’s level of sovereign compute capacity. \p Kanishka Narayan: The UK is scaling sovereign compute to protect national interests and unlock growth.

In July, DSIT published the Compute Roadmap that sets out how we will significantly bolster compute capacity by 2030. This builds on our commitment during the Spending Review to fund over £1bn to expand the AI Research Resource at least twentyfold by 2030, and up to £750 million for a new national supercomputer in Edinburgh.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1428

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to page 25 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what steps she has taken with Ofcom to use the Online Safety Act 2023 in the context of the National Security Strategy. \p Kanishka Narayan: The government is committed to working with Ofcom to ensure the Online Safety Act is implemented quickly and effectively, recognising its vital role in protecting the public and supporting national security.

All services in scope of the Act must comply with illegal content duties and, where relevant, safeguard children from harmful content. The illegal harms codes of practice came into effect in March. Services must take steps to prevent users from encountering illegal content or activity. They must apply additional measures for the most serious and prevalent offences, including child sexual exploitation and abuse, terrorism, and threats to kill.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1429

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress she has made on driving the (a) development and (b) adoption of quantum computers in the UK. \p Kanishka Narayan: The UK’s National Quantum Computing Mission aims to build a scalable quantum computer within ten years. As part of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy Government has committed to invest £670 million into the development of quantum computing. Details of key milestones and funding programmes under this investment will be published in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1430

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress she has made on establishing a clear framework to (a) value and (b) licence public sector data assets. \p Ian Murray: As the Government outlined in the UK Industrial Strategy, there are significant benefits from the financial, economic, and societal value of the different types of data it holds, and work is ongoing to understand how best to assess that.

DSIT is working across departments to fulfil the commitment in the Industrial Strategy by April 2026.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1431

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the importance of developing transformative AI capability as a domain of strategic competition. \p Kanishka Narayan:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1432

Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the establishment of a National Centre for Photonics on technological development in the photonics industry. \p Kanishka Narayan: Photonics is a major UK industry, generating £18.5 billion annually and employing over 84,800 people. It underpins quantum technologies, semiconductors, and telecoms, with government support through programmes like the National Quantum Technologies Programme and wider UKRI initiatives. The Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics in Glasgow plays a leading role in research and commercialisation, particularly in tying together the quantum and photonics clusters. Government supports the UK's photonics capabilities through targeted interventions that support individual sector needs, fostering innovation and growth across emerging technology areas.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1433

Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the use of acting performances to train AI-generated performers without (a) permission and (b) compensation for the original performers. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Government published a consultation on 17 December 2024, seeking views on several topics relating to the interaction between copyright and artificial intelligence (AI). Given the rise of AI-generated ‘digital replicas’, the consultation sought views on whether the UK’s existing legal framework provides individuals, including performers, with sufficient control over their voice and appearance.

The Government is reviewing all responses to the consultation. The Government will set out its position in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1434

Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the differences are in the (a) remit and (b) functions of the Responsible Technology Adoption Unit and its predecessor body the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation. \p Ian Murray: As set out to Parliament in the AI White Paper consultation response published by the previous government, the remit of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI) did not change as a result of its rebrand into the Responsible Technology Adoption Unit (RTA).

However, the functions of CDEI did evolve over time in response to changes in the data and AI landscape between its establishment in 2018 and its role being split across different parts of DSIT in January 2025.

The RTA's key areas are now embedded across DSIT, including in the newly expanded Government Digital Service, the AI Opportunities Unit and the Digital Inclusion team.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1435

Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, which functions of the Responsible Technology Adoption Unit have transferred to (a) the Government Digital Service, (b) other parts of his Department and (c) any other government department. \p Ian Murray: As announced in January 2025, the Responsible Technology Adoption Unit's key areas are now embedded across DSIT as follows:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1436

Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2025 to Question 58980 on Information Commissioner's Office: Remote Working, what the strategic objectives are which the decision to relocate was based on. \p Kanishka Narayan: On completion of the Property Control Approval Request (PCAR) process, the Circle Square Manchester option was lowest in cost on a lifecycle basis across the 10 years. As part of this approval process the Cabinet Office assesses any proposed lease of office space against value for money, efficiency, sustainability and increasing professional skills and expertise. We cannot for reasons of commercial confidentiality reveal real estate costs without the agreement of the landlords but can assure the Right Honourable Member that, in order to gain approval, the relocation represents value for money.

The ICO’s decision to relocate was approved by the Cabinet Office under existing delegated authorities from Cabinet Office Ministers. This enables National Property Controls to provide a cross-department, objective perspective to property transactions to check alignment with the Government Property Strategy and ensure financial and space efficiency.

In response to your question regarding working from home, the ICO offer hybrid working in support of their commitment to attract the best talent, enabling their staff to work where they are most productive, including at one of their five office locations in the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1437

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many and what proportion of properties have been connected to full fibre under the North Shropshire Project Gigabit contract. \p Kanishka Narayan: As of 25 June 2025, Freedom Fibre delivered 2,500 out of an original contract of 12,000 premises, for a proportion of 21% of the original contract. Building Digital UK will publish more up-to-date data about contract delivery in the next few weeks.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1438

Mark Garnier:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help support UK-based businesses that work on orbit (a) servicing and (b) assembly. \p Kanishka Narayan: In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) has been identified as one of five National Space Capabilities, reflecting its strategic importance for economic growth, national security, and space sustainability.

To date, the Government has supported the ISAM sector through national and European Space Agency programmes, such as the National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP), where £5.5m in funding is developing new technologies including capture mechanisms for unprepared satellites, long-range RADAR, and in-orbit refuelling interfaces.

Work is underway to develop a cross-government delivery plan that will support UK-based businesses and provide longer term certainty. Further details will be published in 2026.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1439

Mark Garnier:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to support the implementation of the active debris removal mission. \p Kanishka Narayan: The government is actively supporting the UK’s first Active Debris Removal (ADR) mission, recognising its importance for space sustainability and economic growth.

The UK Space Agency has launched a £75.6m procurement to deliver this mission, which will remove two defunct UK-licensed satellites from low Earth orbit using advanced robotic and autonomous navigation technologies.

The ADR procurement process is currently live.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1440

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if her Department take steps to deliver full fibre to 12,000 premises in North Shropshire following the integration of Building Digital UK into her Department. \p Kanishka Narayan: In North Shropshire, Building Digital UK (BDUK) is seeking to agree the extent to which Openreach may be able to extend its network to reach premises that require support from Project Gigabit.

This work will not be impacted by BDUK’s integration into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).