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1719003

registered interest
date	17/05/2024
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	Mobile Broadband
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 support mobile phone owners whose device is not 4G compatible when the 3G signal is switched off.
tabling member constituency	North Shropshire
tabling member printed	Helen Morgan
uin	26930
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2024 answer text <p>The government welcomes legacy networks being switched off in a responsible way, as this will free up spectrum for 4G and 5G networks and beyond. Ofcom has published details of how it expects the mobile network operators to conduct the switch off in line with their regulatory obligations. These expectations include providing customers with a minimum of three to six months’ notice of any steps they need to take as a result of their provider switching off their 3G networks; communicating in a clear and timely way, using a range of communication channels to raise customer awareness of the proposed changes; and providing additional support to vulnerable customers.</p><p> </p><p>The mobile network operators have set out advice to their customers on 3G switch off plans on each of their websites.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to monitor the MNOs’ progress in switching off their 3G networks.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 22/05/2024 09:06:42 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4934 label Biography information for Helen Morgan

1719091

registered interest
date	17/05/2024
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	Online Safety Act 2023: Freedom of Expression
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the recommendations on the inclusion of (a) human rights and (b) due process principles in Ofcom guidance to companies relating to the Online Safety Act 2023 in the article by The Open Rights Group entitled A dangerous precedent for global censorship, published on 4 March 2024.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	26856
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2024 answer text <p>The government recognises the importance of upholding users’ rights to free expression and privacy online. This is why the Online Safety Act 2023 has built strong safeguards for freedom of expression and privacy into the legislative framework. For example, all providers are required to give particular regard to the importance of protecting users’ freedom of expression and privacy rights when implementing measures to comply with their new safety duties. In addition, major online platforms – known as Category 1 services under the Act - will be required to put in place particular safeguards for journalism and content of democratic importance, in recognition of their influence over public discourse.</p><p>Ofcom’s public consultation for the illegal content duties closed in February 2024 and organisations such as the Open Rights Group were able to provide feedback on Ofcom’s proposals. As a public authority, Ofcom must act in accordance with its public law duties to act lawfully, rationally and fairly. It is unlawful for Ofcom to act in a way which is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, including with regard to individual’s’ rights to freedom of expression and privacy. Ofcom must abide by these principles when developing its regulatory codes of practice and guidance for services.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti grouped question UIN 26858 question first answered 23/05/2024 14:07:32 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1719092

registered interest
date	17/05/2024
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	Online Safety Act 2023: Data Protection
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 with Ofcom to ensure that its guidance on age (a) verification and (b) assurance under the Online Safety Act 2023 reflects data privacy considerations.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	26857
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2024 answer text <p>The Online Safety Act 2023 includes strong safeguards for user privacy. The Act includes principles that Ofcom must have regard to when recommending the use of age assurance technologies for compliance with duties in the Act. Privacy has been represented in these principles, which outline that considerations relating to privacy, as set out in the Data Protection Act 2018, apply to all uses of age assurance technologies used to comply with duties in the Act.</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom is consulting on its codes of practice and guidance, with the child safety codes of practice currently out for consultation.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 23/05/2024 16:13:33 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1719093

registered interest
date	17/05/2024
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	Online Safety Act 2023: Freedom of Expression
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of Ofcom guidance on the Online Safety Act 2023 on freedom of expression.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	26858
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2024 answer text <p>The government recognises the importance of upholding users’ rights to free expression and privacy online. This is why the Online Safety Act 2023 has built strong safeguards for freedom of expression and privacy into the legislative framework. For example, all providers are required to give particular regard to the importance of protecting users’ freedom of expression and privacy rights when implementing measures to comply with their new safety duties. In addition, major online platforms – known as Category 1 services under the Act - will be required to put in place particular safeguards for journalism and content of democratic importance, in recognition of their influence over public discourse.</p><p>Ofcom’s public consultation for the illegal content duties closed in February 2024 and organisations such as the Open Rights Group were able to provide feedback on Ofcom’s proposals. As a public authority, Ofcom must act in accordance with its public law duties to act lawfully, rationally and fairly. It is unlawful for Ofcom to act in a way which is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, including with regard to individual’s’ rights to freedom of expression and privacy. Ofcom must abide by these principles when developing its regulatory codes of practice and guidance for services.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti grouped question UIN 26856 question first answered 23/05/2024 14:07:32 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1719100

registered interest
date	17/05/2024
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	Broadband: Social Tariffs
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 10 July 2023 to Question 192484 on Broadband: Social Tariffs, if he will make an estimate of the number and proportion of eligible people who were both (a) aware of and (b) took up a mobile phone social tariff in the last six months.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	26854
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2024 answer text <p>Ofcom has a statutory duty to monitor the affordability of telecoms services, and releases regular reports regarding public awareness and take-up of broadband and mobile social tariffs.</p><p> </p><p>In December 2023, as part of its Pricing Trends Report, Ofcom stated that awareness of social tariffs amongst eligible households was 45% (or around 2 million households). The report also estimated 380,000 UK households were taking-up social tariff, this represents around 8.3% of those eligible. Ofcom does not differentiate between mobile or broadband for these purposes.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to work closely with Ofcom and the telecoms industry to explore ways to improve awareness of social tariffs amongst eligible households.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 22/05/2024 09:08:55 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1718767

registered interest
date	16/05/2024
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 help tackle digital exclusion.
tabling member constituency	Putney
tabling member printed	Fleur Anderson
uin	26777
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government has been clear that no one should be left behind in the digital age. Digital inclusion is a cross-cutting issue that spans education, employment, access to services and more. The Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy chairs the cross-Whitehall Ministerial group for digital inclusion, which aims to drive progress and accountability across Government.</p><p>In DSIT, we are taking steps to ensure support for some of the most urgent priorities such as investing £5 billion through Project Gigabit to bring gigabit-capable broadband to hard-to-reach communities or working with the telecoms industry to ensure provision of social tariffs.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 23/05/2024 14:10:43 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	4788 label Biography information for Fleur Anderson

1718791

registered interest
date	16/05/2024
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	Animal Experiments
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 help reduce the use of animal testing in scientific research.
tabling member constituency	Southport
tabling member printed	Damien Moore
uin	26728
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2024 answer text <p>On Monday 19th February, I announced that the government will be publishing a plan to accelerate the development, validation, and uptake of technologies and methods to reduce reliance on the use of animals in science. This summer, this will be led by a cross-government group that will consult stakeholders in industry, academia, and charities.</p> answering member constituency Arundel and South Downs answering member printed Andrew Griffith question first answered 23/05/2024 09:52:21 answering member 4874 label Biography information for Andrew Griffith
tabling member	4669 label Biography information for Damien Moore

1718958

registered interest
date	16/05/2024
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	Mobile Phones: Rural Areas
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to assess the service provided by Vodafone and other mobile operators in remote areas to ensure that they are complying with their operating licences.
tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
uin	HL4739
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2024 answer text <p>The coverage outcomes that the mobile network operators committed to as part of the Shared Rural Network and that were then added to their spectrum licences are overseen by Ofcom, with regular reporting throughout the life of the programme to ensure agreed obligations and targets are met. Compliance with these obligations will be assessed by Ofcom at the end of June 2024, by when each operator has committed to have reached 88% geographic coverage of the UK, and 2027 when each operator has committed to have reached at least 90% geographic coverage of the UK. Progress towards these outcomes is published in the regular Ofcom Connected Nations reports.</p> answering member printed Viscount Camrose question first answered 23/05/2024 10:23:54 answering member 4939 label Biography information for Viscount Camrose
tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch

1718971

registered interest
date	16/05/2024
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	Artificial Intelligence: Recruitment
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) attract, and (2) retain, top AI professionals in the UK.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL4752
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2024 answer text <p>Government is committed to ensuring there is a sustainable pipeline of skills workers. Since 2018 we have invested £290 million in AI skills and talent initiatives. This includes the funding of AI and Data Science Conversion Courses scholarships for underrepresented groups.</p><p>The AI Futures programme helps attract top early to mid-career AI talent from around the world to the UK, including through a grants scheme which supports universities and SMEs to meet relocation costs of exceptional AI researchers and engineers.</p><p>We also help UK tech companies access world-class talent through the Global Talent Visa and the Scaleup Worker Visa.</p> answering member printed Viscount Camrose question first answered 23/05/2024 12:21:53 answering member 4939 label Biography information for Viscount Camrose
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1719944

registered interest
date	16/05/2024
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	Mobile Phones: Aerials
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of updating the Code of practice for wireless network development in England to make it easier for rural communities to get new mobile phone masts erected.
tabling member constituency	North Norfolk
tabling member printed	Duncan Baker
uin	903027
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2024 answer text <p>The Wireless Code of Practice was updated in 2022. It provides guidance to operators and local authorities on the deployment of wireless networks, including how infrastructure should be sited.</p><p> </p><p>Installation of new infrastructure is governed by planning legislation. In 2022, we made changes to these regulations to make it quicker and easier to deploy new equipment, including masts in rural areas, to help communities in these areas get the connectivity they need.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 22/05/2024 13:53:58 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4784 label Biography information for Duncan Baker