Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will include Scotland in her department’s consultation entitled “Legislative proposals to address broadband rollout in leasehold flats”.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30th January 2026 to question UIN 107897.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will review the adequacy her policy of not including Scotland for participation in her Department’s consultation titled Legislative proposals to address broadband rollout in leasehold flats.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The proposals in the consultation are based on leasehold law which is applicable in England and Wales but does not apply in Scotland.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the joint publication by the AI Security Institute and Thorn entitled Recommended Practice for AI-G CSEA Prevention, published in December 2025, if she will make the recommendations mandatory for all AI developers to prevent the creation of AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises the importance of tackling AI-generated CSAM. Creating, possessing, or distributing CSAM, including AI Generated CSAM, is illegal. The Online Safety Act requires services to proactively identify and remove this content. We are taking further action in the Crime and Policing Bill to criminalise CSAM image generators, and to ensure AI developers can directly test for and address vulnerabilities in their models which enable the production of CSAM.
The AISI / Thorn joint publication guidance (Recommended Practice for AI-G CSEA Prevention) sets out practical steps that AI developers, model hosting services and others in the AI ecosystem can take to reduce the risk that their systems are misused to generate CSAM. This guidance is informed by input from industry and child protection organisations, and many of the world’s leading AI developers (including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and Meta) have signed up to the principles of earlier forms of this guidance.
The Government is clear: no option is off the table when it comes to protecting the online safety of users in the UK, and we will not hesitate to act where evidence suggests that further action is necessary.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Digital ID scheme will use NHS data.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The credential will be able to display and/or share name, date of birth, information on nationality or residency status, and a photo (as the basis for biometric security). This is similar to documents like passports and eVisas. The consultation will explore whether it would be helpful for users if additional information, like address, should be captured. We have no plans to include NHS data in the credential.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Digital ID will be accepted as proof of identification.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government has announced plans for a new national digital ID for all UK citizens and legal residents aged 16 and over. Employers will be required to conduct digital right to work checks using the new digital credential by the end of this parliament.
Through the consultation, the Government will be exploring the other circumstances in which it could be a choice for people to use this digital ID as proof of identification to make people’s lives less frustrating by giving them easier and more secure access to services. These could include things like getting support into work, accessing free childcare hours, checking free school meals, using financial services, buying a house, or buying alcohol.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the proposed digital ID would be accepted as identification to vote in general elections.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Once the new digital credential is available, the Government intends to add it to the list of acceptable forms of ID for use in voting in elections. It will not be required for voting, however, as other forms of ID will still be available. We will confirm the details of this closer to the launch of the new digital credential once further development has been completed.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what estimate her Department has made of anticipated (a) maximum and (b) minimum potential costs of (i) setting up and (ii) running a digital ID scheme.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government will launch a public consultation on the new digital ID by the end of the year. The eventual total cost and savings will depend on the design, build and delivery of the system, matters which will be included in the consultation.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential effectiveness of the proposed Digital ID scheme in locations without consistent internet access; and what steps she is planning to take to support businesses operating in these locations.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Digital inclusion is central to our thinking on this. The Government will deliver a comprehensive inclusion programme to help ensure everyone eligible is able to access the new digital ID. This will include targeted support for both people and businesses who may struggle to access or engage with digital services or devices.
The Government will launch a public consultation on the new digital ID by the end of the year, setting out the proposed approach in more detail and seeking views on this. This will include the proposed approach to inclusion.
The Government will work closely with expert stakeholders to make the programme as effective and inclusive as possible.
No one will see a reduction in accessibility to public services as a result of these plans; indeed, accessing public services should become much easier for people instead.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to ensure there will be no reduction in the (a) quality and (b) reliability of public services for those without possession of a digital ID.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Digital inclusion is central to our thinking on this. The Government will deliver a comprehensive inclusion programme to help ensure everyone eligible is able to access the new digital ID. This will include targeted support for both people and businesses who may struggle to access or engage with digital services or devices.
The Government will launch a public consultation on the new digital ID by the end of the year, setting out the proposed approach in more detail and seeking views on this. This will include the proposed approach to inclusion.
The Government will work closely with expert stakeholders to make the programme as effective and inclusive as possible.
No one will see a reduction in accessibility to public services as a result of these plans; indeed, accessing public services should become much easier for people instead.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2025 to Question 64258 on Companies House: Proof of Identity, what the cost to the public purse is for (a) the Government's verification service and (b) third-party verification services since the Companies House identity verification system was established.
Answered by Feryal Clark
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State gave on 4th July 2025 to Question 64258.
GOV.UK One Login’s total budget to onboard all central government services for the three years from 2022/23 to 2024/25 was £305.4 million, and is currently undergoing HMT approvals for a new Business Case which will run until 2027/28.
GOV.UK One Login works with third-party providers to help verify a user’s identity. These costs are included in the programme budget.
Companies House provides an alternative IDV route via Authorised Corporate Service Providers.