Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has plans to promote knowledge on the environmental impact of storing unnecessary data.

As outlined in the National Data Strategy, better data use and data-driven innovation will be vital to solving some of today’s biggest challenges, including the UK’s transition to Net Zero through driving emissions reductions across sectors. At the same time as seizing this opportunity we know that we must remain vigilant to the environmental consequences of increased data use.

Through the National Data Strategy Forum workstream on Net Zero, we will continue to highlight the environmental impact of data use as well as champion how the better use of data can support our Net Zero ambitions.