Asked by: Anneliese Midgley (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the level of risk of identity theft in connection with the implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Online Safety Act requires providers to protect users’ right to privacy when implementing age assurance. UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act requires data to be processed fairly, lawfully, and transparently. Where Ofcom is concerned that a provider has not complied it may refer the matter to the ICO.
Under the Act, regulated services that are likely to be accessed by children must implement highly effective age assurance to prevent exposure to harmful content. There are cost-effective compliant methods available.
Highly effective age assurance must be robust, and services must take appropriate steps to mitigate against circumvention.
Asked by: Anneliese Midgley (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will bring forward the removal of requirements for same-sex female couples to self-fund intrauterine insemination cycles before becoming eligible for NHS-funded IVF treatment.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises that fertility treatment across the National Health Service in England is subject to variation in access. Work continues between the Department and NHS England to better understand the offer around NHS-funded fertility services including the issue for female same sex couples.
Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards (ICBs) and are based on the clinical needs of their populations. We expect ICBs to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, which are currently under review and will take into consideration whether the current recommendations for access to fertility guidelines are still appropriate.
In the light of broader pressures on the NHS and on ongoing changes within NHS England we have been looking at achievable ambitions to improve access to fertility services and fairness for all affected couples.
The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health as we build an NHS fit for the future. Through our 10 Year Health Plan, we are delivering our manifesto commitment that never again will women’s health be neglected.