Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants within the Government Communications Service are engaged in identifying, categorising, or responding to social media content critical of government migration policy.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office's GCS team has three staff members responsible for media and social media analysis. While their analysis is not specifically focused on migration, the topic may arise as part of wider thematic reporting. We cannot provide information on GCS staffing levels or responsibilities within other government departments.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government Communications Service maintains a database, spreadsheet, internal dashboard, or record of accounts or individuals who post content about migrants, asylum seekers, or community housing pressures.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government Communication Service (GCS) monitors publicly available media posts, under strict controls, to measure communication effectiveness, understand public narratives, and address potential mis/disinformation.
GCS does not access private information or monitor individuals, but collects, stores, and processes data from public social media posts.
Reports may include examples of high-performing public content relevant to government priorities, and adheres to a published Privacy Notice (link below) outlining the legal basis for monitoring.
GCS uses commercially available automated and AI tools, such as Storyzy, procured via the civil service framework, for information environment analysis; no external contractors are used.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government Communications Service uses automated tools, AI systems, or external contractors to scrape social media data relating to criticism of migration.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government Communication Service (GCS) monitors publicly available media posts, under strict controls, to measure communication effectiveness, understand public narratives, and address potential mis/disinformation.
GCS does not access private information or monitor individuals, but collects, stores, and processes data from public social media posts.
Reports may include examples of high-performing public content relevant to government priorities, and adheres to a published Privacy Notice (link below) outlining the legal basis for monitoring.
GCS uses commercially available automated and AI tools, such as Storyzy, procured via the civil service framework, for information environment analysis; no external contractors are used.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government Communications Service collects, stores, or processes data from social media accounts under the RESIST framework.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government Communication Service (GCS) monitors publicly available media posts, under strict controls, to measure communication effectiveness, understand public narratives, and address potential mis/disinformation.
GCS does not access private information or monitor individuals, but collects, stores, and processes data from public social media posts.
Reports may include examples of high-performing public content relevant to government priorities, and adheres to a published Privacy Notice (link below) outlining the legal basis for monitoring.
GCS uses commercially available automated and AI tools, such as Storyzy, procured via the civil service framework, for information environment analysis; no external contractors are used.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 89231 on Cabinet Office: Social, which channels were (a) contracted and (b) paid by his Department in the last financial year.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Please see below Cabinet Office spend by social platform from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025:
Supplier | Net Media Spend |
Meta | £791,705.41 |
£325,259.65 | |
£13,888.89 | |
Snapchat | £54,812.17 |
TikTok | £65,494.21 |
Grand Total | £1,251,160.33 |
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2025 to Question 86454 on Cabinet Office: Social Media, if he will publish any information that would not prejudice commercial interests.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Influencers are an effective channel to reach audiences. Their work with the Cabinet Office is primarily supported by agencies OmniGov and Pablo Unlimited via the Campaign Solutions 2 framework, link below:
https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6125
Channels are chosen based on audience engagement and alignment with government objectives. The Cabinet Office monitors communication spending to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, and best value for the taxpayer.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department has spent on social media advertising by (a) influencer and (b) organisation in each of the last five financial years.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Sensitivities exist around aspects of this spend which could prejudice commercial interests. All spend in these areas are subject to the standard value for money assessments.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department holds (a) final business cases and (b) data protection impact assessments for (i) the Gov.uk One Login programme and (ii) other digital identity schemes.
Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
GOV.UK One Login has a full business case which has been approved by the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury ministers. GOV.UK One Login has a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA), which we continue to develop with any new identity verification journeys. A business case and DPIA are currently being conducted for the GOV.UK Wallet.
The Government has announced plans for a new digital ID to be available to UK citizens and legal residents aged 16 and over. We will consult and engage on the practical operation of the scheme and the data structures underpinning it, as it is developed.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to (a) initiate and (b) publish the findings of an emergency census in 2026.
Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In July the Government confirmed the next census of England and Wales will take place in 2031.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how questions were provided to the Prime Minister in advance of Prime Minister's questions since 5 July 2025, broken down by party.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
In line with long-standing convention, MPs are responsible for what they say in the chamber.