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1699019

registered interest
date	26/03/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Digital Technology: Disadvantaged
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the annual budget is of the inter-ministerial group on tackling digital exclusion.
tabling member constituency	Rhondda
tabling member printed	Sir Chris Bryant
uin	20555
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government has been clear that ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age is a key priority and continues to take steps to offer the support needed.</p><p>Digital inclusion is a cross-cutting issue that spans social engagement, education, employment, access to services and many more elements of everyday life. Responsibility for relevant policies, activities and budgets sit across government. For example, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is exploring options for funding research to improve the Government’s evidence base on digital exclusion.</p><p>The Government established a cross-Whitehall ministerial group in response to a recommendation from the House of Lords Communication and Digital Committee’s report on ‘Digital Exclusion’. The ministerial group aims to drive progress and accountability on digital inclusion priorities across Government.</p><p>The most recent ministerial group meeting took place in March 2024, chaired by the Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy. The Department for Culture, Media &amp; Sport, Cabinet Office, Department for Work and Pensions, and His Majesty's Treasury were also in attendance.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti grouped question UIN 20556 question first answered 16/04/2024 08:22:49 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	1446 label Biography information for Sir Chris Bryant

1699020

registered interest
date	26/03/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Digital Technology: Disadvantaged
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when the last meeting was of the inter-ministerial group on tackling digital exclusion; and who was in attendance.
tabling member constituency	Rhondda
tabling member printed	Sir Chris Bryant
uin	20556
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government has been clear that ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age is a key priority and continues to take steps to offer the support needed.</p><p>Digital inclusion is a cross-cutting issue that spans social engagement, education, employment, access to services and many more elements of everyday life. Responsibility for relevant policies, activities and budgets sit across government. For example, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is exploring options for funding research to improve the Government’s evidence base on digital exclusion.</p><p>The Government established a cross-Whitehall ministerial group in response to a recommendation from the House of Lords Communication and Digital Committee’s report on ‘Digital Exclusion’. The ministerial group aims to drive progress and accountability on digital inclusion priorities across Government.</p><p>The most recent ministerial group meeting took place in March 2024, chaired by the Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy. The Department for Culture, Media &amp; Sport, Cabinet Office, Department for Work and Pensions, and His Majesty's Treasury were also in attendance.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti grouped question UIN 20555 question first answered 16/04/2024 08:22:49 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	1446 label Biography information for Sir Chris Bryant

1699141

registered interest
date	26/03/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Digital Technology and Internet: Disadvantaged
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Answer of 15 July 2022 to Question 33838 on Digital Technology and Internet: Disadvantaged, what steps she is taking to help tackle digital exclusion; and whether her Department plans to take steps to help individuals with the cost of personal internet.
tabling member constituency	St Albans
tabling member printed	Daisy Cooper
uin	20778
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government has been clear that ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age is a key priority and continues to take steps to offer the support needed.</p><p>Digital inclusion is a cross-cutting issue that spans social engagement, education, employment, access to services and many more elements of everyday life. Responsibility for relevant policies and activities, including monitoring and evaluation, sit across government.</p><p>The Government has worked closely with the telecoms industry to ensure households across the country can access fast, reliable digital infrastructure. Superfast broadband is now available in over 97% of the UK, over 80% of households can access gigabit broadband, and 4G mobile is available to 99% of the population from at least one network provider. The Government is also investing £5 billion through our flagship Project Gigabit programme to bring gigabit broadband to reach hard-to-reach communities.</p><p>The Government established a cross-Whitehall ministerial group in response to a recommendation from the House of Lords Communication and Digital Committee’s report on ‘Digital Exclusion’, published in June 2023. The ministerial group aims to drive progress and accountability on digital inclusion priorities across Government.</p><p>The group has met twice, in September 2023 and March 2024, with attendance from the Cabinet Office, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Department for Culture, Media &amp; Sport, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Education, and His Majesty's Treasury.</p><p>To support those for whom cost may be a barrier, the Government has worked closely with the telecoms industry to ensure market provision of broadband and mobile social tariffs. These low-cost, commercial products are available from 28 different providers, across 99% of the UK and start at just £10 per month.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 18/04/2024 10:47:23 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	4769 label Biography information for Daisy Cooper

1701656

registered interest
date	26/03/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Digital Technology: Disadvantaged
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to improve digital inclusion for people who are unable to access the internet.
tabling member constituency	Uxbridge and South Ruislip
tabling member printed	Steve Tuckwell
uin	902267
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2024 answer text <p>Ensuring people have access to fast, reliable, affordable internet is a priority for this Government.</p><p>As a result of our work with the telecoms industry, basic, non-standalone, 5G is available outside 93% of UK premises, as of April 2024, ThinkBroadband reports that gigabit broadband is available to over 82% of the UK and - through Project Gigabit – we’re investing £5 billion to bring fibre to hard-to-reach communities.</p><p>Broadband and mobile social tariffs are available in 99% of the UK to help low-income households stay connected.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 17/04/2024 15:00:46 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	4994 label Biography information for Steve Tuckwell

1701658

registered interest
date	26/03/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Digital Technology: Disadvantaged
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to reduce the digital skills gap.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	902270
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring access to digital skills for all. By 2024-25, we’re investing £3.8 billion in Digital Skills across England and have quadrupled the scale of Skills Bootcamps.</p><p>The Government provides free Essential Digital Skills Qualifications to address the diverse needs of adults with limited digital proficiency.</p><p>Additionally, the Digital Skills Council drives industry-led action. In February, DSIT partnered with the Council in delivering a communications campaign for Skills Bootcamps in high-demand digital fields. But plugging this gap also means getting the basics right – which is why this government has embarked on one of the largest infrastructure projects in modern times to connect millions of households to gigabit broadband – laying enough fibre optic cable to circle the Earth five times.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 17/04/2024 15:07:16 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1701659

registered interest
date	26/03/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Semiconductors: Manufacturing Industries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to implement the National Semiconductor Strategy.
tabling member constituency	Wimbledon
tabling member printed	Stephen Hammond
uin	902271
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2024 answer text <p>Since publishing our strategy, we have made excellent progress to grow our domestic sector, improve our supply chain resilience and protect our national security.</p><p> </p><p>We have launched the Semiconductor Advisory Panel, an incubator pilot programme, ChipStart UK, joined the EU Chips Joint Undertaking, agreed an ambitious partnership with Japan and secured commitments to work more closely with the US and the Republic of Korea.</p><p> </p><p>We are on track to invest £240 million by April 2025.</p><p> </p><p>It should be further noted that this government has invested more into priority technologies like semiconductors than any government in history.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 17/04/2024 15:10:24 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond

1701660

registered interest
date	26/03/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Disinformation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, further to the Online Safety Act 2023, what additional steps she plans to take to help tackle online disinformation and misinformation.
tabling member constituency	Weston-super-Mare
tabling member printed	John Penrose
uin	902272
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2024 answer text <p>The Online Safety Act will be our key tool in combatting the most egregious forms of online mis- and disinformation but Government action doesn’t stop there.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, we are educating and empowering users through our work on media literacy, responding to information threats to our democracy via the Defending Democracy Taskforce, and analysing attempts to artificially manipulate the online information environment through the work of the National Security Online Information Team.</p><p> </p><p>I regularly meet with major platforms to discuss these issues and would be very happy to update him on recent progress that has been made.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 17/04/2024 15:17:56 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	1584 label Biography information for John Penrose

1697820

registered interest
date	21/03/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Social Media: Mental Health
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions she has had with social media companies on the potential effects of social media on mental health.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	19903
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2024 answer text <p>Ministers hold regular meetings and discussions with a wide range of stakeholders, including social media platforms, on a range of issues. Details of Ministerial meetings are published quarterly on the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Gov.uk</a> website.</p><p> </p><p>While most children have a positive experience online, using the internet to connect with peers and to access educational resources, information, and entertainment, the government is concerned about the impact of harmful and age-inappropriate content and activity online.</p><p> </p><p>The Online Safety Act places robust, much-needed responsibilities on technology companies – including social media platforms – to keep all users, but particularly children, safe online.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 02/04/2024 09:23:17 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1697541

registered interest
date	20/03/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Digital technology: Disadvantaged
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she is taking steps with (a) tech companies and (b) non-profits to improve the accessibility of digital content for people facing literacy barriers.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	19689
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2024 answer text <p>This Government has been clear that ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age is a key priority and continues to take steps to offer needed support, including through the new Cross-Whitehall Ministerial Group for Digital Inclusion.</p><p>Our 2021 Online Media Literacy Strategy seeks to support organisations to undertake activity in a more coordinated, wide-reaching, and high-quality way. Over the last year, we have funded 13 media literacy projects aimed at vulnerable and/or hard-to-reach citizens, including young women excluded from mainstream education and children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.</p><p>The Online Safety Act empowers Ofcom to request information from in-scope companies about their media literacy activities to allow better visibility of tech industry efforts.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 28/03/2024 09:47:57 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1697145

registered interest
date	19/03/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Digital Technology: Wigan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to tackle digital exclusion among older people in Wigan constituency.
tabling member constituency	Wigan
tabling member printed	Lisa Nandy
uin	19342
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2024 answer text <p>The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is responsible for coordinating HMG digital inclusion policy as part of its commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age. Digital inclusion is a cross-cutting issue that spans social engagement, education, employment, access to services and many more elements of everyday life.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology leads on telecoms and digital infrastructure, including Project Gigabit, the Government’s £5 billion mission to deliver lightning-fast, reliable broadband to the hardest to reach parts of the UK. In the Wigan constituency, over 98% of premises can access a superfast connection (&gt;=30Mbps), while 92% can access a gigabit-capable connection, up from 0.8% in December 2019. Both of these current figures are higher than the national averages of 97% and 81% for superfast and gigabit-capable coverage, respectively.</p><p> </p><p>More broadly across Government, the Cabinet Office is working to remove barriers and ensure online services are as inclusive as possible by making public sector websites accessible to as many people as possible. The Cabinet Office leads on the Service Standard, a set of principles government service teams and departments must adhere to when creating and running new public services – such as the NHS – and some Local Authorities, including Greater Manchester Combined Authority, have committed to using these as well.</p><p> </p><p>Training is available for elderly people wishing to acquire essential digital skills. Department for Education has introduced a digital entitlement for adults with no or low digital skills to undertake specified digital qualifications, up to level 1, free of charge. Essential Digital Skills Qualifications, introduced alongside the digital entitlement, are based on new national standards which set out the digital skills people need to get on in life and work.</p><p> </p><p>We also recognise that ongoing support is essential to overcome barriers of access. Our network of 2,900 public libraries across England provide a trusted network of accessible locations with staff, volunteers, free Wi-Fi, public PCs, and assisted digital access to a wide range of digital services.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 22/03/2024 16:48:56 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	4082 label Biography information for Lisa Nandy