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1611676

registered interest
date	18/04/2023
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	Crime: 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, whether the term crime in the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill includes fraud and scams.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Sir Stephen Timms
uin	181220
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2023 answer text <p>Tackling fraud requires a unified and co-ordinated response from government, law enforcement and the private sector to better protect the public and businesses from fraud, reduce the impact of fraud on victims, and increase the disruption and prosecution of fraudsters. This is why we will shortly publish a new strategy to address the threat of fraud.</p><p>The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, which is currently before Parliament will make it easier for businesses to process personal data in order to tackle all types of crime, including fraud and other types of economic crime. When the Bill is commenced, they will be able to rely on a new lawful ground of ‘recognised legitimate interests’ under the UK GDPR to process personal data for these purposes. Unlike the current legislation, this will not require businesses to do a detailed assessment of the potential impact of the processing on the rights of individuals, which may affect the speed at which intelligence information relating to suspected fraud is shared.</p><p>Reforms in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill will also enable businesses, in certain situations, to share information more easily for the purposes of preventing, investigating or detecting economic crime by disapplying civil liability for breaches of confidentiality for firms who share information to combat economic crime.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 24/04/2023 08:49:29 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1611805

registered interest
date	18/04/2023
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	UK Research and Innovation: Expenditure
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 page 142 of the Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 of the UK Research and Innovation, for what reason there was a reduction in net operating expenditure from 2020-21 to 2021-22.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	181349
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2023 answer text <p>UK Government investment in R&amp;D is subject to changes between years that reflect the profile of long-term investments. For example, in FY 2020/21, there was a one-time increase to infrastructure investment of £300 million through UKRI’s world class labs which concluded in 2021/22.</p><p> </p><p>In FY 2021/22, as a result of the challenging financial situation resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government made a temporary reduction to the UK’s Official Development Assistance target, from 0.7% to 0.5% of GDP. This led to a reduction in UKRI’s ODA-eligible R&amp;D expenditure by £256 million in FY 2021/22 compared to FY 2020/21.</p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman question first answered 25/04/2023 09:29:25 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman previous answer version 70804 answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1611820

registered interest
date	18/04/2023
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	Research: Finance
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 Integrated Review, published in March 2021, whether it remains the Government's policy to spend 2.4 per cent of GDP on R&D by 2027.
tabling member constituency	Wentworth and Dearne
tabling member printed	John Healey
uin	181364
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2023 answer text <p>In the 2017 Industrial Strategy, the Government committed to increasing UK economy-wide investment in Research and Development (R&amp;D) to 2.4% of GDP by 2027. Last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) updated its R&amp;D data methodology to better represent R&amp;D performed in small businesses and higher education institutions throughout the UK. The updated figures suggest that the UK’s total investment in R&amp;D reached 2.6-2.7% of GDP in 2019 and 2.9-3% in 2020, exceeding our “2.4% by 2027” target.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is now taking time to consider a range of options.</p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman question first answered 26/04/2023 15:09:55 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
tabling member	400 label Biography information for John Healey

1611060

registered interest
date	17/04/2023
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: Wales
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to introduce an equivalent of the Welsh Access Broadband Cymru scheme in England.
tabling member printed	Lord Lipsey
uin	HL7145
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2023 answer text <p>The Access Broadband Cymru (ABC) scheme is run by the Welsh Government and provides grants to fund (or part-fund) the installation costs of new broadband connections for homes and businesses in Wales. New connections through this scheme must deliver a step change in speed, with at least double current download speeds. However, it does not require all connections to be gigabit-capable.</p><p>The UK Government’s focus is on the delivery of Project Gigabit across the whole of the UK. Project Gigabit is the government’s £5 billion mission to deliver lightning-fast, reliable broadband across the UK. Over 75% of UK premises now have access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection, which is a significant increase from 6% in January 2019.</p><p>We are delivering a series of procurements to provide subsidies to broadband suppliers to build gigabit-capable infrastructure to premises that will not be reached by suppliers’ commercial plans alone. We have already awarded eight Project Gigabit contracts and launched a further 18 procurements across the country, making over £1.2 billion of funding available to cover up to 850,000 premises. The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme also provides a subsidy of up to £4,500 for residents and businesses towards the cost of installing gigabit-capable broadband via local community broadband projects.</p> answering member printed Viscount Camrose question first answered 24/04/2023 10:48:16 answering member 4939 label Biography information for Viscount Camrose
tabling member	2492 label Biography information for Lord Lipsey

1611093

registered interest
date	17/04/2023
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	Voice over Internet Protocol
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the resumption by BT of the rollout of Digital Voice, what assessment they have made of the Digital Voice rollout on small service providers.
tabling member printed	Lord Clement-Jones
uin	HL7105
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2023 answer text <p>The UK’s transition from the Public Switched Telecoms Network (PSTN) to IP-based telephony services (such as BT’s Digital Voice programme) is an industry-led migration. While Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) meets regularly with telecom providers to discuss their progress, we do not assess individual companies’ programmes given each provider has their own schedule and plans for the upgrade.</p><p>Openreach, as the subsidiary of BT Group responsible for operating and maintaining the digital network, is working closely with other communications providers and industry bodies to collectively work through any migration challenges. In 2018, Openreach conducted a consultation towards communication providers to inform its strategy for the PSTN migration.</p><p>Separately, BT’s consumer division has reformed its approach to migrating residential customers. For instance, they have introduced the Digital Voice Advisory Group, an association made up of charities and representative groups that has been advising on the needs of customers most affected by the switch. DSIT meets regularly with both Openreach and BT Consumer counterparts to monitor their progress and discuss particular issues.</p><p>Customers with limited broadband connectivity will not be adversely impacted by the PSTN migration. In order to function correctly, Voice over IP requires a minimum stable connection speed of just 0.5 Mbps, and for current landline-only customers it will be possible to order a VoIP landline without purchasing an internet connection.</p><p>Furthermore, the PSTN migration does not affect the universal service obligations set in the Electronic Communications (Universal Service) Order 2003 which require the designated providers (namely BT Group and KCOM) to offer telephony services throughout the UK. BT Group and KCOM will still be required to provide access to a range of telephony services.</p><p>This government remains committed to extending good quality mobile coverage across the UK. The Shared Rural Network programme will increase 4G mobile coverage to 95% of the UK landmass by the end of 2025, underpinned by licence obligations. Furthermore, through the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, we have announced a new ambition of nationwide coverage of standalone 5G to all populated areas by 2030.</p> answering member printed Viscount Camrose grouped question UIN HL7107 HL7109 question first answered 25/04/2023 14:57:18 answering member 4939 label Biography information for Viscount Camrose
tabling member	3396 label Biography information for Lord Clement-Jones

1611094

registered interest
date	17/04/2023
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	Voice over Internet Protocol: Emergency Services
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the resumption by BT of the rollout of Digital Voice, what assessment they have made of how contact with the emergency services will be guaranteed for residents.
tabling member printed	Lord Clement-Jones
uin	HL7106
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2023 answer text <p>The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is privately-owned and the decision to upgrade it has been taken independently by the telecoms industry. However, the government and Ofcom are working together to ensure consumers and sectors are protected and prepared for the migration to Voice-over-internet Protocol (VoIP).</p><p>All Communications Providers have obligations under the Communications Act 2003, implemented under Condition A3 of Ofcom’s General Conditions of Entitlement (available on their website), to provide a Public Emergency Call Service for the numbers 999 and 112 in the UK. Ofcom places a regulatory obligation on Communications Providers to take all necessary measures to ensure uninterrupted access to emergency organisations for their customers, and these obligations will continue post migration.</p><p>Ofcom has issued guidance on how telecoms companies can fulfil their regulatory obligation to ensure that VoIP customers have continued access to the emergency services in the event of a power outage. The guidance states that at least one solution must be available for a minimum of one hour that enables access to emergency organisations in the event of a power cut. Any solution must be made available free of charge to customers who providers determine are reliant on their landline to make emergency calls during a power cut. These are minimum standards, and in practice many providers are offering solutions which exceed them.</p><p>The Government has asked Ofcom to review how all communications providers are meeting the needs of their customers by fulfilling their obligations during power outages, because it falls within Ofcom’s remit to determine the terms of its General Conditions as an independent regulator.</p> answering member printed Viscount Camrose grouped question UIN HL7108 HL7110 question first answered 25/04/2023 14:58:26 answering member 4939 label Biography information for Viscount Camrose
tabling member	3396 label Biography information for Lord Clement-Jones

1611095

registered interest
date	17/04/2023
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	Voice over Internet Protocol: Public Consultation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the resumption by BT of the rollout of Digital Voice, what assessment they have made of the consultation which has taken place prior to resumption of the Digital Voice rollout.
tabling member printed	Lord Clement-Jones
uin	HL7107
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2023 answer text <p>The UK’s transition from the Public Switched Telecoms Network (PSTN) to IP-based telephony services (such as BT’s Digital Voice programme) is an industry-led migration. While Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) meets regularly with telecom providers to discuss their progress, we do not assess individual companies’ programmes given each provider has their own schedule and plans for the upgrade.</p><p>Openreach, as the subsidiary of BT Group responsible for operating and maintaining the digital network, is working closely with other communications providers and industry bodies to collectively work through any migration challenges. In 2018, Openreach conducted a consultation towards communication providers to inform its strategy for the PSTN migration.</p><p>Separately, BT’s consumer division has reformed its approach to migrating residential customers. For instance, they have introduced the Digital Voice Advisory Group, an association made up of charities and representative groups that has been advising on the needs of customers most affected by the switch. DSIT meets regularly with both Openreach and BT Consumer counterparts to monitor their progress and discuss particular issues.</p><p>Customers with limited broadband connectivity will not be adversely impacted by the PSTN migration. In order to function correctly, Voice over IP requires a minimum stable connection speed of just 0.5 Mbps, and for current landline-only customers it will be possible to order a VoIP landline without purchasing an internet connection.</p><p>Furthermore, the PSTN migration does not affect the universal service obligations set in the Electronic Communications (Universal Service) Order 2003 which require the designated providers (namely BT Group and KCOM) to offer telephony services throughout the UK. BT Group and KCOM will still be required to provide access to a range of telephony services.</p><p>This government remains committed to extending good quality mobile coverage across the UK. The Shared Rural Network programme will increase 4G mobile coverage to 95% of the UK landmass by the end of 2025, underpinned by licence obligations. Furthermore, through the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, we have announced a new ambition of nationwide coverage of standalone 5G to all populated areas by 2030.</p> answering member printed Viscount Camrose grouped question UIN HL7105 HL7109 question first answered 25/04/2023 14:57:19 answering member 4939 label Biography information for Viscount Camrose
tabling member	3396 label Biography information for Lord Clement-Jones

1611096

registered interest
date	17/04/2023
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	Voice over Internet Protocol: Power Failures
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the resumption by BT of the rollout of Digital Voice, what assessment they have made of BT's commitment to providing backup battery packs for vulnerable people against power cuts and of the re-charging arrangements for the packs.
tabling member printed	Lord Clement-Jones
uin	HL7108
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2023 answer text <p>The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is privately-owned and the decision to upgrade it has been taken independently by the telecoms industry. However, the government and Ofcom are working together to ensure consumers and sectors are protected and prepared for the migration to Voice-over-internet Protocol (VoIP).</p><p>All Communications Providers have obligations under the Communications Act 2003, implemented under Condition A3 of Ofcom’s General Conditions of Entitlement (available on their website), to provide a Public Emergency Call Service for the numbers 999 and 112 in the UK. Ofcom places a regulatory obligation on Communications Providers to take all necessary measures to ensure uninterrupted access to emergency organisations for their customers, and these obligations will continue post migration.</p><p>Ofcom has issued guidance on how telecoms companies can fulfil their regulatory obligation to ensure that VoIP customers have continued access to the emergency services in the event of a power outage. The guidance states that at least one solution must be available for a minimum of one hour that enables access to emergency organisations in the event of a power cut. Any solution must be made available free of charge to customers who providers determine are reliant on their landline to make emergency calls during a power cut. These are minimum standards, and in practice many providers are offering solutions which exceed them.</p><p>The Government has asked Ofcom to review how all communications providers are meeting the needs of their customers by fulfilling their obligations during power outages, because it falls within Ofcom’s remit to determine the terms of its General Conditions as an independent regulator.</p> answering member printed Viscount Camrose grouped question UIN HL7106 HL7110 question first answered 25/04/2023 14:58:26 answering member 4939 label Biography information for Viscount Camrose
tabling member	3396 label Biography information for Lord Clement-Jones

1611097

registered interest
date	17/04/2023
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	Voice over Internet Protocol: Mobile Phones
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the resumption by BT of the rollout of Digital Voice, what assessment they have made of plans to improve mobile phone coverage in the areas without copper connection.
tabling member printed	Lord Clement-Jones
uin	HL7109
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2023 answer text <p>The UK’s transition from the Public Switched Telecoms Network (PSTN) to IP-based telephony services (such as BT’s Digital Voice programme) is an industry-led migration. While Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) meets regularly with telecom providers to discuss their progress, we do not assess individual companies’ programmes given each provider has their own schedule and plans for the upgrade.</p><p>Openreach, as the subsidiary of BT Group responsible for operating and maintaining the digital network, is working closely with other communications providers and industry bodies to collectively work through any migration challenges. In 2018, Openreach conducted a consultation towards communication providers to inform its strategy for the PSTN migration.</p><p>Separately, BT’s consumer division has reformed its approach to migrating residential customers. For instance, they have introduced the Digital Voice Advisory Group, an association made up of charities and representative groups that has been advising on the needs of customers most affected by the switch. DSIT meets regularly with both Openreach and BT Consumer counterparts to monitor their progress and discuss particular issues.</p><p>Customers with limited broadband connectivity will not be adversely impacted by the PSTN migration. In order to function correctly, Voice over IP requires a minimum stable connection speed of just 0.5 Mbps, and for current landline-only customers it will be possible to order a VoIP landline without purchasing an internet connection.</p><p>Furthermore, the PSTN migration does not affect the universal service obligations set in the Electronic Communications (Universal Service) Order 2003 which require the designated providers (namely BT Group and KCOM) to offer telephony services throughout the UK. BT Group and KCOM will still be required to provide access to a range of telephony services.</p><p>This government remains committed to extending good quality mobile coverage across the UK. The Shared Rural Network programme will increase 4G mobile coverage to 95% of the UK landmass by the end of 2025, underpinned by licence obligations. Furthermore, through the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, we have announced a new ambition of nationwide coverage of standalone 5G to all populated areas by 2030.</p> answering member printed Viscount Camrose grouped question UIN HL7105 HL7107 question first answered 25/04/2023 14:57:19 answering member 4939 label Biography information for Viscount Camrose
tabling member	3396 label Biography information for Lord Clement-Jones

1611098

registered interest
date	17/04/2023
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	Voice over Internet Protocol: Electricity Generation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the resumption by BT of the rollout of Digital Voice, what assessment they have made of the needs of residents without an adequate electricity supply.
tabling member printed	Lord Clement-Jones
uin	HL7110
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2023 answer text <p>The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is privately-owned and the decision to upgrade it has been taken independently by the telecoms industry. However, the government and Ofcom are working together to ensure consumers and sectors are protected and prepared for the migration to Voice-over-internet Protocol (VoIP).</p><p>All Communications Providers have obligations under the Communications Act 2003, implemented under Condition A3 of Ofcom’s General Conditions of Entitlement (available on their website), to provide a Public Emergency Call Service for the numbers 999 and 112 in the UK. Ofcom places a regulatory obligation on Communications Providers to take all necessary measures to ensure uninterrupted access to emergency organisations for their customers, and these obligations will continue post migration.</p><p>Ofcom has issued guidance on how telecoms companies can fulfil their regulatory obligation to ensure that VoIP customers have continued access to the emergency services in the event of a power outage. The guidance states that at least one solution must be available for a minimum of one hour that enables access to emergency organisations in the event of a power cut. Any solution must be made available free of charge to customers who providers determine are reliant on their landline to make emergency calls during a power cut. These are minimum standards, and in practice many providers are offering solutions which exceed them.</p><p>The Government has asked Ofcom to review how all communications providers are meeting the needs of their customers by fulfilling their obligations during power outages, because it falls within Ofcom’s remit to determine the terms of its General Conditions as an independent regulator.</p> answering member printed Viscount Camrose grouped question UIN HL7106 HL7108 question first answered 25/04/2023 14:58:26 answering member 4939 label Biography information for Viscount Camrose
tabling member	3396 label Biography information for Lord Clement-Jones