Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what information his Department holds on when the Information Commissioner plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton of 12 June 2025 on data protection in local government.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Although the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) acts as the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)’s sponsor within government, it is an independent regulator and they manage their own casework function. The ICO has informed me that they will be responding shortly to the member’s letter.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has had discussions with BT Openreach on the cyber-security of the CL-WAP telephone and internet exchange adjacent to the Royal Mint.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is committed to ensuring the security and resilience of the UK’s telecommunications infrastructure. The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 introduced a robust security framework requiring public telecoms providers to identify, reduce and prepare for security and resilience risks.
The Government does not comment on discussions around the security of specific sites.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what role (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) Ofcom play in ensuring the cyber-security of telecommunication exchanges (i) at Wapping in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and (ii) in the City of London.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is committed to ensuring the security and resilience of the UK’s telecommunications infrastructure. The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 introduced a robust security framework requiring public telecoms providers to identify, reduce and prepare for security and resilience risks. We have also included data centres as parts of Critical National Infrastructure.
DSIT is responsible for developing policies to help ensure the security of the UK’s public telecoms networks and services. DSIT works with the National Cyber Security Centre as the technical authority providing advice on cyber-security threats and vulnerabilities, the National Protective Security Authority as the technical authority for physical and personnel security, and Ofcom as regulator for the framework.
The Government does not comment on the security of specific sites; however, we work with our agencies to respond to specific security incidents or vulnerabilities identified.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what work Innovate UK has undertaken in relation to (a) cyber-security and (b) cyber-physical infrastructure in the last five years.
Answered by Feryal Clark
Innovate UK have delivered a number of programmes and grants relating to cyber security and cyber-physical infrastructure over the past five years. A comprehensive list can be found below. These initiatives represent a significant investment in the cyber sector.
Cyber Security Initiatives
Cyber-Physical Infrastructure Projects
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Information Commissioner has produced guidance on the inclusion of local Electoral Returning Officers within the definition of local authorities for the Re-use of Public Sector Information.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Re-Use of Public Sector Information (RPSI) Regulations 2015 apply to public sector bodies in the UK, including local authorities. The ICO has produced guidance on the RPSI, which can be accessed on its website and includes details about the scope of the legislation. The National Archives also has detailed guidance available on its website.
The ICO does not have specific plans to update this guidance.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will have discussions with Ofcom on removing its use of historic data from European Parliamentary elections in its most recent publication entitled Evidence of past electoral support and evidence of current support ahead of the various elections taking place on 1 May 2025, published on 6 March 2025.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We do not intend to discuss this with Ofcom, as it is operationally independent from the government and responsible for its own publications.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he intends to meet with the Advertising Standards Authority to discuss the advertising of part-copper broadband as fibre.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I refer the right Hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton to the answer of 21 November to question UIN 14700.