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1719222

registered interest
date	20/05/2024
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	X Corp: Disinformation
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 the Counter disinformation unit has taken to help X tackle QAon disinformation on its platform.
tabling member constituency	South Swindon
tabling member printed	Sir Robert Buckland
uin	27030
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2024 answer text <p>In October 2023 the Counter Disinformation Unit became the National Security and Online Information Team (the NSOIT). The name more accurately reflects the team’s revised remit and function, which is to tackle the greatest national security risks facing the UK from mis and disinformation, specifically looking at threats posed by foreign states, risks to elections and from the use of AI and deepfakes. This revised remit is kept under regular review.</p><p> </p><p>NSOIT’s remit does not include working with individual platforms to tackle mis or disinformation from certain individuals or groups. In specific circumstances, the NSOIT may share online material with platforms where it is in line with ministerial steers, is on an issue within the team’s remit, and where the content appears to be in breach of the platform’s terms of service. Social media platforms decide whether or not content is a breach of their terms of service and, if so, what action to take.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 23/05/2024 16:15:31 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland

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

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

1718001

registered interest
date	14/05/2024
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	Subversion: Artificial Intelligence
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 commission a report on the potential impact of AI on (a) democracy and (b) elections.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	26168
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2024 answer text <p><strong></strong></p><p>The Government takes the threat disinformation and AI digitally manipulated content poses very seriously.</p><p>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.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 17/05/2024 09:01:33 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1717478

registered interest
date	13/05/2024
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	Social Media: Safety
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 it her policy to regulate small forums that share (a) antisemitic hatred and (b) instructional content on methods of suicide to the fullest extent possible under the powers available to her in the Online Safety Act 2023; and what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies on that matter of Ofcom's advice of 29 February 2024 on the use of powers under that Act.
tabling member constituency	Brigg and Goole
tabling member printed	Andrew Percy
uin	25824
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2024 answer text <p>The Secretary of State is considering in detail the advice that Ofcom has provided. The Secretary of State will make regulations as soon as reasonably practicable, in line with Schedule 11 of the Act.</p><p>More broadly, all user-to-user services in scope of the Online Safety Act – including online forums of any size – will be required to comply with the illegal safety duties and take steps to remove illegal content. The strongest protections in the Act are for children and where these services are likely to be accessed by children, they must also protect children from a wider range of harmful content. Targeted duties on search services, to minimise illegal search results, will also reduce traffic to websites, including online forums, that host illegal material.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti grouped question UIN 25823 question first answered 21/05/2024 11:44:41 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	3939 label Biography information for Andrew Percy

1717539

registered interest
date	13/05/2024
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	5G: Equipment
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 list companies that are prohibited from providing equipment for 5G networks.
tabling member constituency	Wentworth and Dearne
tabling member printed	John Healey
uin	25766
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2024 answer text <p>On 13 October 2022, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport issued a Designation Notice to Huawei and a Designated Vendor Direction to 35 telecom providers. The Direction provides twelve specific restrictions/requirements on telecom providers’ use of Huawei equipment and services up to and including the removal of Huawei from 5G networks by the end of 2027.</p><p> </p><p>This is the first time the Government has issued a direction and currently no other directions have been issued.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 21/05/2024 11:54:15 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	400 label Biography information for John Healey

1717193

registered interest
date	10/05/2024
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	Kidney Diseases: Research
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 cost to the public purse was of Government investment into kidney disease research in 2022-23; and which public bodies provided that investment.
tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
tabling member printed	Kirsten Oswald
uin	25650
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2024 answer text <p><strong></strong></p><p>UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funds research into the detection, prevention, treatment and underpinning biology of kidney disease, allocated primarily through the Medical Research Council (MRC). Over the period of 2019/20 to 2022/23, MRC has invested nearly £30 million in funding and support for kidney disease research with £6.9 million in 2022/23.</p><p> </p><p>The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) also provides funding for kidney disease research. I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided by my Rt. Hon. Friend the member for Pendle on 15 April 2024 (UIN 20328).</p><p><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fquestions-statements.parliament.uk%2Fwritten-questions%2Fdetail%2F2024-03-25%2F20328&amp;data=05%7C02%7CSRIHub%40dsit.gov.uk%7C6316700b8b684af1ae4008dc758335d3%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C638514453608826602%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=XQfM6rzZF82RtZ0dEO4f2IgDvVOWPuCAj3RyfQdfzGc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-03-25/20328</a></p> answering member constituency Arundel and South Downs answering member printed Andrew Griffith question first answered 20/05/2024 08:25:45 answering member 4874 label Biography information for Andrew Griffith
tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1717000

registered interest
date	09/05/2024
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	Universities: China
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what collaborations on medical research are currently taking place between government-funded universities in the UK, and medical and research institutions based in China; and whether any of these collaborations relate to organ transplantation.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL4495
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2024 answer text <p>The International Science Partnerships Fund and Newton Fund have active medical research programmes involving collaborations between UK Higher Education Institutions and Chinese counterparts. These predominantly focus on antimicrobial resistance and pandemic preparedness and none of them relate to organ transplantation.</p> answering member printed Viscount Camrose question first answered 23/05/2024 09:57:14 answering member 4939 label Biography information for Viscount Camrose
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1714507

registered interest
date	29/04/2024
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	Cybersecurity: Offshoring
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 has had recent discussions with UK-based companies on trends in the level of cyber security jobs moved abroad.
tabling member constituency	Blaenau Gwent
tabling member printed	Nick Smith
uin	24011
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2024 answer text <p>Ministers engage regularly with UK cyber security companies to understand employment trends. This includes engagement through visits and forums such as the Cyber Growth Partnership and the National Cyber Advisory Board. The government's annual <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fcyber-security-sectoral-analysis-2023&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cparliamentary-questions%40dsit.gov.uk%7C12135348c96d47fb98c308dc69cc4cbf%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C638501573393163645%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=T0wcem3PJgms71lT0PZdDxBFXsu%2Bd3PqM6dkEtVPV0w%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">cyber security sectoral analysis</a> reviews the growth and health of the sector, showing employment in the UK has risen each year since the government began publishing the data in 2018. Currently, the UK cyber security sector employs over 58,000 people, having generated an additional 5,300 jobs in the past year alone.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 02/05/2024 07:58:38 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith

1714620

registered interest
date	29/04/2024
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, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2024 to Question 902272 on Disinformation, how many information threats the Defending Democracy Taskforce has responded to.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	24046
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2024 answer text <p>In 2022 the Defending Democracy Taskforce, chaired by the Security Minister, was established to further drive forward work to protect the UK from the full range of threats facing our democratic institutions and processes, including interference with the UK democratic process. The Taskforce engages across government and with Parliament, the UK’s intelligence community, the devolved administrations, local authorities, the private sector, and civil society.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>It would not be appropriate to comment publicly on the volume of information threats the departments which support the Taskforce team have responded to, in part because doing so would give malign actors insight into the scale of the UK’s capabilities to identify and tackle such threats to our democratic processes.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 02/05/2024 15:26:16 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis