Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to respond to the report by Professor Adrian Smith and Professor Graeme Reid Changes and choices: advice on future frameworks for international collaboration on research and innovation, published on 5 November 2019.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
Sir Adrian and Professor Reid’s report ‘Changes and Choices’ makes overarching recommendations which highlight the importance of stabilising and building on the UK capability, it presents opportunities for the future funding landscape of UK research and innovation globally, and it also provides options should the UK decide not to associate to Horizon Europe.
The Government is carefully considering the recommendations including how this might inform future policy and plans to publish a response in due course.
Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they (1) received, and (2) will publish, the report by Sir Adrian Smith and Prof. Graeme Reid Future frameworks for international collaboration on research and innovation.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
My rt. hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his Spring Statement on 13 March 2019 that the Government had launched an independent review to assess and make recommendations on our future frameworks for international collaboration. On 26 March 2019, my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation commissioned Professor Sir Adrian Smith to provide independent advice on the design of future UK funding schemes for international collaboration. The report was received in the summer and we will publish the response as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish the minutes of each meeting of the Industrial Strategy Council.
Answered by Lord Henley
The Industrial Strategy Council held its inaugural meeting on 1 November 2018 and the second meeting took place on 27 February 2019. Its next meetings are scheduled for 26 June 2019 and 3 October 2019 and will be held in Belfast and Manchester respectively. The minutes from every Council meeting will be published on the Council’s website which is currently being developed and will be operational by the Summer.
Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times the Industrial Strategy Council has met.
Answered by Lord Henley
The Industrial Strategy Council held its inaugural meeting on 1 November 2018 and the second meeting took place on 27 February 2019. Its next meetings are scheduled for 26 June 2019 and 3 October 2019 and will be held in Belfast and Manchester respectively. The minutes from every Council meeting will be published on the Council’s website which is currently being developed and will be operational by the Summer.
Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, since the closure of the Forensic Science Service, how many in-house police forensic scientists have previously been police officers.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Home Office does not hold this information.
Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to promote UK–EU cooperation on cybersecurity after the UK leaves the EU, including compliance with the proposed establishment of European cybersecurity certification schemes.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
We remain committed to working with our European and International partners to help shape cyber security measures, which is in the interests of our wider collective security. This is clearly outlined in the 'Political Declaration', which sets out a vision for close relationship in cyber security, including through participation of certain activities of ENISA, the EU Cybersecurity Agency and the NIS Cooperation Group. The EU 'Cybersecurity Act', which sets out a framework for the development of EU wide cyber security certification schemes reached political agreement in December and we will be working with the EU to consider the future implications for this legislation as part of this close relationship. The UK will continue to apply international cyber security standards, which the EU 'Cybersecurity Act' promotes the use of, because these are in the interests of better cyber security and are important to avoid market fragmentation globally.
Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they plan to include in their forthcoming Online Harms white paper to mitigate against the risks of new types of harms such as (1) stolen data, (2) invasion of privacy and (3) interdependence of cyber and physical risks that could arise from increased use of Internet of Things technologies.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Online Harms White Paper will set out a range of legislative and non-legislative measures to tackle a range of online harms. The Government takes both the protection of personal data and the right to privacy extremely seriously.
The Data Protection Act 2018 makes our data protection laws fit for the digital age and empowers people to take control of their data. The Government has recently published a Code of Practice for Consumer Internet of Things Security, which outlines thirteen guidelines that manufacturers should follow to keep consumers safe. DCMS will be working to drive implementation of this Code throughout 2019.
The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport held a round table, to which Peers were invited, on 15th January 2019 to seek views on the scope of the forthcoming White Paper.
Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they monitor commercial mapping projects undertaken in the UK.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
There are no restrictions on the creation of mapping databases of the UK and the government does not formally monitor such projects.
Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they place any restrictions on which companies are permitted to develop high definition mapping databases of UK cities and countryside; whether there are particular restrictions depending on which country a company is registered in; and if so, to which countries such particular restrictions apply.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
There are no restrictions on the creation of mapping databases of the UK and the government does not formally monitor such projects.
Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the development of an open and competitive “mobility as a service” market.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The recent Future of Mobility Grand Challenge Call for Evidence asked respondents to raise market and regulatory considerations for new mobility services, including Mobility as a Service. The Government is currently considering the evidence and will publish its response early next year.