Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress his Department has made with the Digital Poverty Alliance on providing re-purposed Government laptops to people who need them.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is implementing a device donation pilot by working with the Digital Poverty Alliance to refurbish end-of-life laptops from DSIT, DESNZ and DBT and distribute them to those who need them most. This pilot will be in effect until Autumn 2025.
We are also working closely with industry on a device donation charter, to encourage more organisations to set up their own device donation schemes. We are hoping to publish this in Spring 2025.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to tackle digital exclusion.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan in February, which sets out the first steps we are taking towards our ambition of delivering digital inclusion for everyone across the UK, regardless of their circumstances. The Government also published a call for evidence on the focus areas and invited contributions from individual citizens, charities, business, civil society, and subject matter experts. The call for evidence closed on 9 April and details on how the Government expects to respond will be shared in due course.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress he has made on the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund, announced in February 2025.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Digital inclusion is a priority for Government. The Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund is designed to support initiatives that increase digital participation and to identify innovative best practice with an ambition to scale and replicate successful digital inclusion activities.
Further details of funding will be shared in due course.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much money the Government has committed for the Digital Inclusion Fund; and how it will be allocated.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Digital inclusion is a priority for Government. The Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund is designed to support initiatives that increase digital participation and to identify innovative best practice with an ambition to scale and replicate successful digital inclusion activities.
Further details of funding will be shared in due course.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to publish the evidence from the Digital Inclusion Strategy Call for Evidence.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan in February, which sets out the first steps we are taking towards our ambition of delivering digital inclusion for everyone across the UK, regardless of their circumstances. The Government also published a call for evidence on the focus areas and invited contributions from individual citizens, charities, business, civil society, and subject matter experts. The call for evidence closed on 9 April and details on how the Government expects to respond will be shared in due course.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress he has made on establishing the Digital Inclusion Action Committee.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Digital Inclusion Action Committee is an external advisory body that will work closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. It will be made up of national and local experts to tackle digital exclusion. Its role is to scrutinise, steer and help determine the work of the government in reducing digital exclusion in every part of the UK.
The Expression of Interest closed on 2nd April, and selection is underway, led by Baroness Armstrong. Attendees are expected to be announced in Spring 2025. The first meeting will take place shortly thereafter.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of using the Digital Information and Smart Data Bill to extend the list of cookie exemptions to include (a) advertising performance and (b) audience measurement cookies.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
There is a balance to strike between driving growth and innovation whilst ensuring people retain appropriate choice and control about how their personal data captured by cookies is used. While we have not added this exemption to the face of the Data (Use and Access) Bill, we have taken power in new regulation 6A to extend or modify the list of exemptions.
We have already begun talking to industry and others about the possible use of this power and will continue to do so. This change would require careful consideration and consultation.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with the European Union on the future of EU Adequacy on data protection.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 October 2024 to Question 8500.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress he has made on removing Huawei from 5G networks by the end of 2027.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
As he will know, the Designated Vendor Direction issued in October 2022 set out twelve requirements on the removal of Huawei equipment and services that telecoms providers have a legal obligation to meet. We are working closely with providers who received a direction to monitor and ensure compliance. There are two remaining deadlines for the end of 2025 and 2027 which providers must meet.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on supporting digital inclusion in schools.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
I met with the Minister of State for School Standards last week to discuss digital inclusion in schools as a shared priority across our Departments.