Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

The government has announced a consultation and national conversation to gather evidence to understand how best we can build on the Online Safety Act’s provisions to ensure children have positive, enriched digital lives.

We will consult parents, the organisations representing children and bereaved parents, technology companies and, crucially, children and young people themselves, because their views and voices must be heard. We will make sure that the consultation is evidence-led, with input from independent experts.

The Government supports Ofcom’s strengthened transparency rules, which came into force in January 2025, to ensure consumers know clearly how and when any price changes will occur. These rules require telecoms and Pay TV providers to set out in pounds and pence, and in plain English, any in‑contract price increase before the customer signs up, so people can understand and compare deals easily.

Ofcom has also previously introduced clearer and easier switching rights, meaning that where price rises occur under a “prices may vary” contract, consumers now have more straightforward routes to switch provider and find a better deal if they choose to do so.

On top of this, on 11 February, the Chancellor and Secretary of State secured further voluntary action from telecoms companies through the new Telecoms Consumer Charter. This Charter strengthens transparency further, prevents unexpected mid‑contract price increases where rises have been specified upfront, and includes additional commitments aimed at empowering consumers and improving support for those struggling to pay.

The Government will continue working closely with Ofcom to ensure consumers are protected from unfair pricing practices across telecommunications services.

The Online Safety Act requires in-scope services, including social media platforms, to protect children from illegal content, harmful content and age-inappropriate content.

The government has announced a consultation and national conversation to gather evidence to understand how best we can build on the Act’s provisions to ensure children have positive, enriched digital lives. The consultation will seek views on a range of measures, including what the right minimum age for children to access social media is.

We will act on the findings of the consultation.

Protecting children from harm online is a top priority for this government.

This year, the government will be supporting a NSPCC summit at Wilton Park on the impact of AI on childhood. This will bring together experts, technology companies, civil society and young people to explore how AI can benefit children without exposing them to harm

Media literacy is also a key part of our approach, helping children and adults develop critical thinking skills to navigate the growing presence of AI-generated content. DSIT has developed with DfE an online safety parent hub providing guidance on media literacy and online safety.

The Government takes the safety of children extremely seriously. We recognise the potential risks that AI systems pose, and that is why strong protections apply to them. Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope AI services must assess the risk of harm to users from illegal content on their services and implement measures to manage and mitigate this risk. Where services are likely to be accessed by children, they will be required to take action to protect them from harmful content.

The Government has been clear that it will continue to take further action where required. We have introduced new offences in the Crime and Policing Bill to criminalise AI tools designed to generate child sexual abuse material. Additionally, the Secretary of State has confirmed in Parliament that the Government is exploring how emerging services, such as AI chatbots, interact with the Online Safety Act and what further measures may be required.

The Online Safety Act requires services to protect children in the UK, including Surrey and Surrey Heath, from illegal and harmful content online. But we know that up and down the country, parents are grappling with how much screentime their children should have and the consequences on their mental health.

The government is determined to give children the childhood they deserve and enhance their wellbeing. That is why we are launching a consultation to gather evidence to understand how best we can build on the Online Safety Act’s provisions to ensure children have positive, enriched digital lives.

The consultation will be accompanied by a national conversation, and we want to hear from children and parents right across the UK. Every voice matters in shaping what comes next.

At this time, the Department does not administer payroll deductions for Credit Unions, and there are no proposals to introduce such a service.

The government will review submissions to the consultation once the consultation has closed and respond to the consultation in the summer. We will act quickly on the findings of the consultation.

We want to be sure that everyone’s views are heard in the consultation on next steps to enhance children’s wellbeing online. This includes civil society organisations, parents and children from a wide variety of backgrounds.

To help companies comply with their duties under the Online Safety Act, Ofcom published guidance on the risks of illegal content and content to children as part of the Illegal Content Codes and Protection of Children Codes. The guidance notes the risks associated with children’s public profiles, such as abusive and hateful content, and the impact on different age groups. Service must refer to this guidance when implementing measures to protect children online.

We are launching a consultation to gather evidence to understand how best we can build on these provisions to ensure children have positive, enriched digital lives.

Making the online environment a safer place for children is a priority for this government.

The Online Safety Act requires services to protect children from harmful and age-inappropriate content as well as proactively tackle the most harmful illegal content, much of which disproportionately affects women and girls, including intimate image abuse.

Ofcom has published guidance outlining steps services can take to make their platforms safer for women and girls online.

We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the Act, the government announced a consultation and national conversation to understand how best we can build on these provisions to ensure children have positive, enriched digital lives.

Exploring solutions for enabling users and institutions to determine what media is real and what is AI-generated is a key part of tackling a wide range of AI risks. The government is examining the robustness of a range of such solutions in this space through the recent Deepfake Detection Challenge.

AI is a general-purpose technology with a wide range of applications, which is why the government believes that the vast majority of AI systems should be regulated at the point of use. In response to the AI Action Plan, the government committed to work with regulators to boost their capabilities. The government has been clear that we will legislate where needed but we will do so on the basis of evidence where any serious gaps are.

A range of existing rules already apply to artificial intelligence (AI) systems, such as data protection, competition, equality legislation, and online safety. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), in close collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), has created a voluntary Software Security Code of Practice which enables software vendors to secure software at all stages of their lifecycle.

As a government, we have also committed through the AI Action Plan to work with regulators to boost their capabilities, and DSIT and NCSC have taken a leading role in the development of the world's first published global standard for AI cyber security in ETSI (EN 304 223), which sets minimum-security requirements to help secure AI models and systems.

The Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill does not specifically bring large language models or AI companies into scope. However, where organisations in scope of the Bill use AI models and systems, that organisation will need to take appropriate and proportionate steps to manage the risks to these from hackers. This would include large language models which are used as part of the day-to-day software available to staff in a hospital.

The practices recommended to protect against AI-driven cyber threats are essentially the same as those recommended for protecting against “traditional” cyber threats, which are to get good cyber hygiene measures in place, such as using the government’s Cyber Essentials scheme, and managing digital risks by using the Cyber Governance Code of Practice.

This Government welcomes the increase in technology company incorporations in the UK in 2025, which reflects the strength of the UK’s tech ecosystem and growing levels of tech entrepreneurship across the country. We are encouraged that new tech businesses are being founded across UK regions and cities, supporting local growth, attracting investment, and helping to build strong regional tech and innovation clusters beyond London. And we are committed to removing barriers to growth for startups across the UK – ensuring the UK is one of the best places for tech companies to start, scale and stay.

We are supporting regional economic development through measures such as the Regional Tech Booster, a programme supporting startups and accelerating tech clusters beyond London. Partnerships across the UK have bid for up to £20 million through our Local Innovation Partnerships Fund - a new £500 million UKRI-led programme to grow regional strengths including those in the digital and technology sector.

We are supporting tech entrepreneurship and the sector through venture capital schemes, R&D tax reliefs, targeted visa routes, the AI Opportunities Action Plan, and by streamlining regulation to support innovation. We are investing in skills, compute, and designated AI Growth Zones; on R&D, we are committing £38.6 billion to UKRI over five years; and powering entrepreneurship through the Entrepreneurship Prospectus, Enterprise Fellowships, and Innovate UK’s £130 million Growth Catalyst.

We are also unlocking finance via pension and capital‑markets reforms, while the British Business Bank increases annual investment to £2.5bn and commits £5bn to growth‑stage funds.

Together, these measures set out a comprehensive, long‑term plan, backed by record funding, to support tech entrepreneurship and drive economic growth across all regions of the UK.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) does not hold any direct capital investments in companies listed on US equity markets.

DSIT’s capital portfolio consists of investments approved on a case‑by‑case basis against agreed criteria, and is primarily focused on UK‑based research, innovation and infrastructure programmes, as well as government‑sponsored bodies. DSIT's investments are monitored on a portfolio basis, including assessing market and valuation risks and considering any indirect effects global market movements on the Department’s assets.

In January, we published A roadmap for modern digital government, which brings together many of the most important digitisation initiatives across the public sector, including work to digitise key health services through the NHS App, expand Making Tax Digital, and develop a streamlined digital border and immigration system. Joining up public services is at the heart of this roadmap, which aims to make interactions with government simpler, faster, and more personal.

However, we have already made significant progress in expanding digital pathways and transforming public services.

Since its launch in July 2025, the GOV.UK app has been downloaded 360,000 times. Additionally, GOV.UK One Login is steadily growing: 15 million people have verified their identity, allowing them to access 122 government services, with more being added regularly. Through the GOV.UK Wallet, we’ve rolled out Digital Veteran Cards, providing nearly two million veterans with phone-based proof of status, and mobile driving licences are currently in development.

The government is also exploring ways to transform delivery with AI, such as through the Prime Minister’s AI Exemplars, a suite of AI-enabled tools used to save time and increase productivity by digitising processes across education, health, probation, and planning services.

Alongside the roadmap, we launched CustomerFirst, a new unit designed to drive end-to-end service transformation and improve the customer offering across government. It is already partnering with the DVLA, helping them to radically rethink how they handle millions of customer interactions each year across motoring services.

The Government recognises that AI is transforming workplaces, demanding new skills and augmenting existing roles. The scale of future change remains uncertain. We are therefore planning against a range of plausible outcomes to ensure workers continue to have access to good, meaningful employment.

This includes our recent announcement establishing the AI and the Future of Work Unit. The Unit will provide robust analysis and evidence on the impact of AI on the labour market. For example, our recent assessment of AI capabilities and their impact on the UK labour market evaluates trends in AI driven productivity gains and workforce exposure to AI. The Unit will also coordinate action across government, ensuring our principles are delivered through practical help and support for workers and employers.

Through AI Growth Zones (AIGZs), we aim to crowd-in tens of billions of pounds in private investment and drive growth, with AIGZs announced so far expected to create over 15,000 jobs.

AIGZs are designed to accelerate data‑centre build‑out and attract substantial private investment, creating construction roles, permanent operational jobs, and wider indirect employment through supply‑chain growth and skills pathways. Each AI Growth Zone will also receive £5 million to support local AI adoption and upskilling, helping ensure communities benefit directly from new opportunities.

Five AI Growth Zones have been designated to date, all expected to contribute to regional regeneration and the UK’s long‑term compute capacity. We do not make specific assumptions about the nature or geographical nature of jobs indirectly related to AI Growth Zones.

The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology regularly engages with representatives of the life sciences sector. The issue of the application of VAT on medicines supplied free-of-charge via Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS) and other compassionate access schemes has been raised with Ministers.

Application of VAT is determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature of the supply. This includes medicines or treatments provided for free under the EAMS.

In certain circumstances the giving of goods away for free can be outside the scope of VAT. Where the supply is within the scope of VAT a relief may apply, meaning the supply can be made VAT free.

We utilise a range of international suppliers based on operational requirements, value for money, and compliance with our security and legal obligations, with all suppliers subject to rigorous due diligence.

AI is a central focus of the Government’s economic and innovation priorities.

Due to data lags, 2025 AI Sector size is not currently available but will be released later this year in the 2025 AI Sector Study. Our most recent analysis highlights that between 2022 and 2024, the number of AI firms operating in the UK increased from 3,170 to 5,863, an 85% rise. This reflects both the strength of the UK’s AI investment environment, which is the highest in Europe, and ongoing work across Government to support safe and effective AI adoption.

Key policies continuing to drive this growth include the launch of the AI Opportunities Action Plan — with 38 of its 50 recommendations already in progress. This includes the development of five AI Growth Zones across England, Scotland and Wales, and initiatives such as the AI Skills Hub and support for employers to upskill 10 million workers so they can thrive in an AI‑enabled economy, as well as the Barnsley Tech Town programme.

The Shared Rural Network (SRN) has already delivered its core objective, 4G mobile coverage from at least one mobile network operator to 95% of UK landmass, a year ahead of schedule. However, there are still rural areas of the UK where there is either limited or no mobile coverage, and the SRN continues to deliver new coverage to these communities. We have already upgraded 110 of 190 Home Office masts and activated the first of up to 44 new total not-spot masts which are already delivering new 4G coverage in the most rural areas. While the SRN will not remove every total not spot, it is designed to deliver coverage where it will have the greatest benefit, primarily where people live, work and travel. On this basis, Government assesses that the current delivery model is a proportionate and cost-effective way of addressing the majority of connectivity gaps in rural areas while ensuring value for public money.

The Government is committed to driving growth and innovation through regulation. It is currently consulting with the space sector on options to revise how the limit of operator liability is determined for satellite operations, as part of development of a wider set of regulatory financial tools to support the growth of the UK’s orbital operations sector.

The Government intends to set out its latest thinking to the sector shortly in response to the feedback received. These measures will contribute to a reduction of operators’ regulatory administrative costs in line with the Prime Minister’s target of a 25% reduction across sectors by 2030.

The Medical Research Council (MRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is not currently funding any research into vaccines for gingivitis or periodontitis. MRC invests more broadly in dental and oral health research, including some periodontitis research, to aid its detection and treatment.

This government is committed to harnessing the power of compute to enable innovations that will deliver growth and opportunity and for people across the UK.

The AI Research Resource (AIRR) is now live and is free to use for the UK’s scientists, public sector organisations, and start-ups and SMEs. It is made up of two supercomputers: Dawn at Cambridge, and Isambard-AI in Bristol – one of the world’s top 10 public supercomputers and the 4th greenest in the world.

DSIT are investing up to £2 billion in public compute until 2030. This includes expanding our AI Research Resource twentyfold by 2030. As part of this, HMG recently announced a £36 million investment to expand Cambridge’s DAWN supercomputer sixfold by spring 2026. These investments will provide UK researchers and start‑ups free access to world‑class AI compute, enabling breakthroughs in areas such as personalised medicine, climate modelling and more efficient public services.

The Government recognises the importance of the London insurance market as the global leader in space insurance. It is looking at options to further support its growth and future development of emerging services, such as Active Debris Removal. The Government is committed to driving growth and innovation through regulation. It is currently consulting on a range of regulatory financial tools for growth of both the orbital operations and insurance sectors, and intends to set out its latest thinking shortly. These measures will contribute to a reduction of operators’ regulatory administrative costs in line with the Prime Minister’s target of a 25% reduction across sectors by 2030.

The Department has held three Ministerial meetings with MBR since 5 July 2024. All meetings were attended by Minister Vallance. The first took place on 18 July 2025 as part of a wider meeting with Contract Research Organisations (CROs). Further meetings were held on 17 September 2025 and also on 2 October 2025.

The 2024-25 outturn for Capability gross administration costs is broken down as below:

*As one of DSIT’s major projects, Matrix programme costs have been presented separately i.e. deducted from other totals above.

To note that DSIT was established in February 2023, whereas the reported 2019-20 value is an assumptions‑based apportionment for a department that did not exist at the time; as such the two figures are not directly comparable.

Since the establishment of DSIT, there have been further several structural and operational changes including a further Machinery of Government change during 2024-25, which transferred Government Digital Service (GDS) policy responsibilities from the Cabinet Office to DSIT, increasing the size and scope of the department. New policy areas and programmes have also been established in this period, including the Matrix programme. Collectively, these factors, along with inflationary increases, have contributed to the higher costs recorded within the DSIT Capability line.

The Department uses a travel management company to book hotel accommodation for staff. The star rating of the hotel is not recorded but the nightly cost of hotel accommodation has maximum cost levels set and are only breached when there is no suitable accommodation available within these limits.

In order to ensure that the consultation considers all arguments and views, we are drawing on expertise from across the department and from a variety of different teams as necessary. This means that an accurate estimation in terms of FTE is not possible.

International deals have remained constant at around 60% of total merger and acquisition activity since 2021, with a greater concentration in innovation-driven fields.

Whilst this brings significant inward investment and unlocks funds to be reinvested back into our innovation ecosystem, Government is also taking steps to increase capital available from UK sources so that companies have the option to scale, grow and list in the UK. Measures taken to support this include increasing capitalisation of the British Business Bank and National Wealth Fund, launching a new Listings Taskforce, ongoing pensions reforms, and wider measures set out in the Entrepreneurship Prospectus.

As part of Project Gigabit, Freedom Fibre delivered gigabit-capable broadband to approximately 1,900 premises in North Shropshire constituency. All infrastructure assets deployed through Building Digital UK (BDUK) subsidy have to be made available to other providers, as this is a contract obligation. BDUK undertook a market consultation with suppliers across England and Wales on their interest and capability for further delivery and is now following up with suppliers on the potential for further projects through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, utilising existing available infrastructure wherever possible.

Government is committed to delivering gigabit coverage to 99% of UK premises by 2032 and will continue to consider what it can do to further enable alternatives to fibre connections for premises located in very hard-to-reach areas.

The Government also works closely with Ofcom to ensure that spectrum management and licensing arrangements support the deployment of satellite broadband services, including through appropriate authorisation of satellite networks and earth stations.

The Government Alpha trials, which ended in March 2025, tested the capability of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology to deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity in remote locations. The Government also ran a pilot through the Rural Connectivity Accelerator which combined satellite and wireless technologies to support connectivity needs in remote areas.

The satellite market is developing at pace, with further entrants and significant changes to terminal equipment, speeds and the cost of service packages. We continue to monitor and support the development of this market.

The Government Digital Service is implementing the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS), which provides a standardised way for departments and arm’s length bodies to publish information about algorithmic tools they use that significantly influence decisions or interact with the public. ATRS records are published in a central repository on GOV.UK, and more records are being added regularly as part of a phased mandatory rollout across government, providing a cross‑government mechanism to maintain and expand transparency over these systems.

The Online Safety Act updated Ofcom’s statutory duty to promote media literacy, including by raising awareness and understanding of misinformation and harmful content, especially where it affects vulnerable groups. The Secretary of State maintains regular, constructive engagement with Ofcom on delivery of its obligations.

Both Ofcom and DSIT are taking steps to improve media literacy among parents and carers and are working closely to ensure our approaches are complementary.

Supporting parents and children is central to our media literacy approach. On 10 February, DSIT launched a pilot media literacy communications campaign to give parents tools to help children build resilience and critical thinking skills online. A new Online Safety hub, developed with DfE, will provide everyone in the UK with clear guidance on media literacy and online safety.

Under the Online Safety Act, Ofcom has a media literacy strategy that prioritises support for children and families, especially those with additional needs.

In formal education, the Department for Education has committed to strengthening media literacy in the updated national curriculum.

In December, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) set out how it will deliver its record £38.6 billion funding allocation over the next four years. This is part of the largest ever investment in R&D made by any UK government (£86 billion up to 2029/30) and will help drive new scientific breakthroughs, help create new industries and grow businesses faster, and deliver the growth we need for good jobs and better lives.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has been in active dialogue with UKRI to ensure that any implications from funding decisions are fully understood and that they reflect both the UK’s strategic research priorities and its global commitments. DSIT has asked UKRI to ensure that its final allocations are informed by meaningful consultation with the research community and a robust assessment of potential consequences for the UK’s scientific capability.

We recognise that AI is transforming workplaces, demanding new skills and augmenting existing roles, although the future scale of change remains uncertain. This Government is planning against a range of plausible outcomes to ensure workers continue to have access to good, meaningful employment.

To support this work, the Government has established a new Future of Work Unit in DSIT. The Unit will provide robust analysis and evidence on the impact of AI on the labour market and will coordinate action across government, ensuring our principles are delivered through practical help and support for workers and employers.

At the same time, AI presents significant opportunities for the labour market. Around 35% of UK jobs predicted to benefit from productivity gains through AI adoption. Through the AI Opportunities Action Plan, we have committed to upskilling 10 million workers in essential AI skills by 2030. This will support workers to adapt and thrive in workplaces where AI tools are increasingly widespread.

The Government is putting technology at the heart of our mission to grow the UK economy.

We are launching a £250 million procurement to expand the AI Research Resource, giving UK researchers and businesses free access to cutting‑edge compute so every region can benefit from nationwide innovation.

The Government is also expanding access to free AI skills training, available to all adults across the UK, that aims to equip 10 million workers with practical AI skills by 2030, ensuring people and businesses in every region can take advantage of new technologies.

Alone, Leicester City Council received £35,391.97 from the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund for its ‘Let’s Get Digital’ project, which will help 150 peoples, this will build digital confidence for social inclusion, reducing service dependency and improving economic outcomes.

The Government is also supporting UK medicine and med‑tech manufacturing through the £520 million Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund, bringing high‑value jobs to regions like the East Midlands, strengthening supply chains, and securing over £30 million of new investment.

The Government aims for the UK to be a global leader in AI, using our strengths in financial services and AI to boost growth, productivity and consumer benefits. Safe adoption is central to this.

Organisations must handle personal data fairly, lawfully, transparently and securely, with individuals retaining rights such as access, correction and deletion.

The Financial Conduct Authority is also acting in this space, including publishing guidance for consumers on using AI tools for investment research and highlighting risks like inaccurate or outdated information.

The FCA’s Supercharged Sandbox and AI Live Testing service give firms access to computing, data and safe real‑world environments to support responsible AI use in UK financial markets.

More broadly, the Government recognises that people often lack the support they need when making financial decisions. To improve this, we are introducing a new targeted support regime enabling trusted firms to suggest suitable products or actions based on a customer’s circumstances. Targeted Support will launch in April 2026.

The advert for applications was launched on 17 November 2025, with a deadline of 18 December 2025. On 17 December, the application deadline was extended until 5 January 2026, and the advert on gov.uk was amended to reflect this change.

The Government is committed to ensure that any risks arising from the industry-led migration of the analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to digital Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated for all customers across the UK.

Government secured safeguards for customers through the PSTN Charter in December 2023 and the Non‑Voluntary Migrations Checklist in November 2024. Major communication providers committed to a number of measures to protect customers, including signing data sharing agreements with local authorities to identify telecare customers, timely and repeated communications, a free engineer visit, and a battery back-up solution, if needed.

In addition to existing safeguards, any vulnerable customers (including the elderly) can self-identify to receive additional support from their provider as set out in the GOV.UK Supported Journeys Guidance when their landline is upgraded.

The Government is committed to ensure that any risks arising from the industry-led migration of the analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to digital Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated for all customers across the UK.

Government secured safeguards for customers through the PSTN Charter in December 2023 and the Non‑Voluntary Migrations Checklist in November 2024. Major communication providers committed to a number of measures to protect customers, including signing data sharing agreements with local authorities to identify telecare customers, timely and repeated communications, a free engineer visit, and a battery back-up solution, if needed.

In addition to existing safeguards, any vulnerable customers (including the elderly) can self-identify to receive additional support from their provider as set out in the GOV.UK Supported Journeys Guidance when their landline is upgraded.

The Government is committed to ensure that any risks arising from the industry-led migration of the analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to digital Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated for all customers across the UK, including Surrey. There are 3.6 million remaining PSTN lines. Down from over 35 million PSTN lines at the network’s peak.

Communication providers and network operators signed voluntary charters in December 2023 and March 2024, committing to protect consumers during the PSTN switch-off, including the vulnerable. In November 2024, major communication providers agreed to further safeguards. These include timely and repeated communications, signing data sharing agreements with local authorities to identify telecare customers, a free engineer visit, and a battery back-up solution, if needed.

According to Ofcom’s Connected Nations 2025 report, more than 84% of premises in Surrey Heath constituency have access to a gigabit capable connection, slightly below the national average of 86%.

As part of Project Gigabit, Openreach is delivering a contract across Surrey, delivering gigabit-capable broadband to premises not included in suppliers’ commercial rollout plans. Of the approximately 1,950 premises in Surrey Heath constituency included within this contract, approximately 610 have now received access to a gigabit-capable connection.