Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to tackle fraud using gift cards.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
Government is committed to tackling online fraud and holding those who profit from it to account by working closely with industry, regulators and consumer groups to consider legislative and non-legislative solutions.
This includes continuing work on digital identity and data protection and work with the telecommunications and other sectors to target harden systems and design out key online vulnerabilities.
We have launched Stop! Think Fraud, a new campaign led by the Home Office in collaboration with many organisations across government, law enforcement, banking, tech firms, and charities to give people the tools and information they need to stay ahead of scams, and help protect themselves against fraud.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the consultation entitled Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping, what steps her Department plans to take to enforce the proposals relating to (a) tobacco and (b) vape products bought from online retailers.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
A strong approach to enforcement is vital if the smokefree generation and youth vaping policy is to have real impact. Underage and illicit sale of tobacco, and more recently vapes, is undermining the work the Government is doing to regulate the industry and protect public health. The sale of illicit products frequently targets children and young people in disadvantaged communities, widening health disparities.
For this reason, HM Revenue and Customs and Border Force published the joint illicit tobacco strategy, Stubbing Out the Problem, in January 2024. This sets out our plans to be at the forefront of tackling illegal activity and opportunities that criminals might seek to exploit. One of the strategies key aims is to reduce the demand for illicit tobacco, which will include tackling online sales of illicit tobacco on social media platforms, gathering intelligence on social media sales, and working with social media platforms to ensure we are effective in limiting criminal groups’ ability to sell illicit tobacco through these channels.
Additionally, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is creating a framework of standards and governance, underpinned by legislation, to enable the widespread use of trusted digital identity services. This will make it possible for people to prove things about themselves in a secure way without using paper documents.
The Government wants to make sure that those under the legal age of sale cannot buy tobacco products and vapes online, so we have committed to further enhance online age verification. As set out in the command paper, Stopping the start: our new plan to create a smokefree generation, we will work with retailers that sell tobacco products and vapes to produce good practice guidance to help retailers adopt online age verification, to address underage sales.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had discussions with relevant stakeholders on the potential merits of using non-fungible tokens to replace paper identification required to (a) open a bank account and (b) access (i) loans, (ii) mortgages, (iii) credit cards, (iv) investment opportunities and (v) other financial instruments.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises the widespread benefits of digital identity use.
HM Treasury’s Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs) 2017 require banks and other regulated financial firms to verify a customer’s identity to open, access or maintain a bank account or other financial products. The MLRs do not impose a preference in how a regulated firm should verify its customers’ identities, either using traditional paper or digital identity sources.
Asked by: Lord Lipsey (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for ensuring that setting up a Government Gateway account is more straightforward and accessible.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
A simple Government Gateway account can be created with only an email address. The customer is provided with a unique username (Government Gateway ID) and is asked to create a password. This account will not have identity checks associated to it, so can only be used to access Government services which do not require identity checking. Where a customer needs to access services requiring identity checking, additional Identity Verification steps are provided by Government Gateway, based on the identity information the customer has available to them. It is recognised that this can be difficult for some customers, particularly those with limited digital skills or limited documented identity sources.
All Government Gateway Services follow accessibility rules and guidelines, when building, improving, or changing our systems. As well as completing user research and user testing to understand the impact to our customers. This testing is completed with a wide range of different users to understand the impact on our customers.
A Disability Impact Assessment is always completed, working with our accessibility partners to ensure that all accessibility needs are considered in anything we do.
From Spring 2024 onwards, HMRC will begin to migrate new and some existing Government Gateway customers to GOV.UK One Login. This is the Governments new strategic authentication and identity checking system, operated by the Government Digital Service in Cabinet Office, which is making it easier and faster for users to prove and reuse their identity to access the government services they need. Improving accessibility is at the heart of GOV.UK One Login; it offers multiple ways for people to prove who they are, including an in-person option, and a customer support centre to help users with lower digital skills
Initially, only a small number of users will be able to access HMRC services through GOV.UK One Login, with volumes building over time. This measured approach is designed to ensure a high quality experience for users as we expand its roll out.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the 2021 census, (1) how were the cisgender and transgender individuals who took part in ONS qualitative research on gender identity conducted in 2017 selected; (2) what percentage of transgender individuals participated in the (a) 2019 census rehearsal and (b) 2021 census; (3) which local authority areas were chosen for the rehearsal; and (4) what assessment they have made of census data relating to high levels of trans-identified individuals in areas of England and Wales with high minority ethnic populations.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.
The Baroness Hoey
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
14 November 2023
Dear Baroness Hoey,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking (1) how the cisgender and transgender individuals who took part in Office for National Statistics (ONS) qualitative research on gender identity, conducted in 2017, were selected; (2) what percentage of transgender individuals participated in the (a) 2019 census rehearsal and (b) 2021 census; (3) which local authority areas were chosen for the rehearsal; and (4) what assessment has been made of census data relating to high levels of trans-identified individuals in areas of England and Wales with high minority ethnic populations (HL38).
Census 2021 was the first census in England and Wales to collect data on people's gender identity. The census asked a voluntary question on gender identity of people aged 16 and over and this data was first published in January 2023.
On 8 November 2023, the ONS published an article titled ‘Quality of Census 2021 gender identity data’ [1]. This is the result of its investigation into the quality of census gender identity data after some unexpected patterns were identified. It included looking at patterns of trans identification by ethnic group, country of birth and proficiency in English. These patterns can offer some insight into the last aspect of your question relating to the level of trans-identified individuals in England and Wales with high minority ethnic populations.
Gender identity question development
As with all census questions, the gender identity question went through a detailed process of development and testing. This evaluated three core designs as described in detail in our 2020 publication ‘Sex and gender identity question development for Census 2021’ [2]. As set out in Annex 2 of that report, the testing activities conducted for this topic included:
qualitative research involving both trans participants and those whose gender identity is the same as their sex registered at birth (cisgender)
quantitative research through five online and multi-modal surveys with a range of respondents
inclusion in the 2019 Census Rehearsal
Your questions relating to specific testing within that process are addressed below
Participants in qualitative testing in 2017
In 2017, we carried out two sets of qualitative testing as part of the development of the gender identity question. In March and April 2017, we carried out exploratory cognitive interviews and focus groups, this testing is referred to as 2017:6 in annex 2 [2] and in the summary of testing for Census 2021 which includes further information [3]. We included cisgender (female and male), transgender, and intersex participants, as well as people with a transgender person in their family. We also made sure we involved people of different ages, education levels, ethnicities, and household types. Transgender participants were recruited through the following sources:
Various trans organisations and contacts.
Respondents to the ONS’s Opinions and Lifestyle Survey who had given permission for ONS to contact them again for future research.
Follow-up contact with volunteers from previous research.
Through a request for volunteers with the required characteristics among family, friends, and other contacts of ONS staff (the participants did not include ONS staff themselves).
In August and September 2017, we carried out further cognitive interviews with cisgender and transgender participants (2017:15) [2] . Transgender participants were recruited through various trans organisations and follow-up contact with people who had responded to recruitment for the earlier research but weren’t interviewed at that time. Cisgender participants were recruited through the research team’s register of participants in previous research on other topics, who had given permission for ONS to contact them again for future research.
The 2019 Census Rehearsal
The 2019 Census Rehearsal took place in four local authority areas: Carlisle, Ceredigion, Hackney, and Tower Hamlets. These locations were selected so that we could rehearse in different types of areas. The Rehearsal tested our preparations, our operational processes and systems, our digital platform, our engagement and communications strategies and the Census Coverage Survey, as part of our preparations for Census 2021. It was not designed to collect representative data, but to test, evaluate and gather feedback on our preparations. The overall response rate for this voluntary survey was therefore lower than for Census 2021, particularly for communal establishments such as student halls of residence.
The gender identity question was voluntary in Census 2021 and was clearly marked as voluntary in the questionnaire for both the census and the 2019 Rehearsal. In the Rehearsal, 0.3% of respondents aged 16 and over answered ‘No’ to the gender identity question, reporting that their gender identity was different to their sex registered at birth. In Census 2021, 0.5% of respondents answered ‘No’ to the gender identity question; 6% of census respondents gave no answer to the question.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
[1] https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/qualityofcensus2021genderidentitydata
Asked by: Alun Cairns (Conservative - Vale of Glamorgan)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of using blockchain technology in digitising the land registry.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government strongly believes that there are significant opportunities from digitising HM Land Registry (HMLR) and making more information freely-available. HMLR is also committed to promoting digital innovation in the property market. In recent years, it has introduced digital tools relating to electronic signatures and a standard for digital identity solutions. HMLR is working collaboratively with stakeholders in the conveyancing sector and is considering a range of technologies to contribute to a truly digital, automated conveyancing process.
Government’s Roadmap to a Digital Future includes digital transformation in Government by “automating manual processes”. Almost 90% of HMLR’s applications are received via digital application routes and the majority of HMLR’s services are already automated. HMLR continues to increase automation to drive greater efficiency and deliver maximum value for the taxpayer, and to increase the proportion of end-to-end digital processes.
Asked by: Alun Cairns (Conservative - Vale of Glamorgan)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of digitising the Land Registry.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government strongly believes that there are significant opportunities from digitising HM Land Registry (HMLR) and making more information freely-available. HMLR is also committed to promoting digital innovation in the property market. In recent years, it has introduced digital tools relating to electronic signatures and a standard for digital identity solutions. HMLR is working collaboratively with stakeholders in the conveyancing sector and is considering a range of technologies to contribute to a truly digital, automated conveyancing process.
Government’s Roadmap to a Digital Future includes digital transformation in Government by “automating manual processes”. Almost 90% of HMLR’s applications are received via digital application routes and the majority of HMLR’s services are already automated. HMLR continues to increase automation to drive greater efficiency and deliver maximum value for the taxpayer, and to increase the proportion of end-to-end digital processes.
Asked by: Lord Aberdare (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of introducing a new youth-group digital visa application process for those under the age of 18 wishing to visit the UK.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
There are no current plans to introduce a youth-group visa application process specifically for those aged under 18.
Separately, as part of an overall agreement on migration reached with France during the March summit between the Prime Minister and the French President, we have committed to easing travel between our two countries for schoolchildren on organised trips. Work is now under way to operationalise these arrangements.
The Home Office is also developing a border and immigration system which is “digital by default”.
This will see physical and paper-based products and services replaced with accessible, easy to use online and digital services. This will provide applicants with an easy online application process, including providing biometrics and establishing or verifying identity using their smartphones.
The transition towards eVisas is already underway, with millions of customers already receiving digital evidence of their immigration permission and using this to enter and live in the UK.
This will be supported by clearer, accessible guidance and content on gov.uk making it simpler and more intuitive for people to understand if they are eligible for a visa, what steps they need to take to apply and, if granted, the conditions of their stay in the UK.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps their Department is taking to improve its digital services to provide better (a) accessibility and (b) user experience for the public.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department is committed to ensuring that it meets the requirements of the Public Sector Websites and Applications Regulations. The Department has published guidance on how to implement accessibility standards and understand conformance. The Department has an accessibility support team that helps delivery teams to understand and raise awareness of accessibility. The Department plans to create a new standard for accessibility and a framework for compliance, governance and supporting processes.
The Department is committed to improving the user experience for people who interact with its data, digital and technology services. The Department wants to make sure that its services are accessible, friendly, and seamless and is working towards creating smoother journeys for users. User Centred Design practices are used to design and test improvements to its digital services.
The Department is working towards all its citizen facing services using GOV.UK’s One Login for identity management, where possible, so that users only need to remember one login to use government services.
Through a commitment made in Skills for Jobs: Lifelong Learning for Opportunity and Growth, published in January 2021, the Department is launching a new website to showcase all the different skills offers available in one place. This single digital starting point will make it easier for users to search for and compare opportunities that suit them.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps their Department is taking to improve its digital services to provide better (a) accessibility and (b) user experience for the public.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP is continually working to improve the accessibility of DWP gov.uk services and for users of assistive technologies.
Colleagues now follow a formal DWP Digital Accessibility Policy, which sets out the standards that product teams must adhere to when creating new products or updating existing products.
Training and consultancy is provided for product teams to enable them to create accessible content and test it with assistive software.
It is our ambition to digitalise our experience although we will also ensure we are inclusive in our design and provide an alternative non-digital service for users who are unable to use a digital channel.
Some of our improvements include also changes to our channels and the ways in which customers interact with us, such as enabling voice activated customer service on our telephony channel introducing new channels, including webchat in some areas.
We are also in the early stages of designing a new interface where a user can access key information across their benefits.
We know that access to our products and services is key, and to make this easier we are improving our identity solution. We intend to converge with the Government One Log in service which will provide a single identity access solution across Government. In the meantime, DWP has its own online identity solution that enables a user to identify themselves once, and then re-use that identity across multiple channels with a simple credential check. This will ensure fast and simple access to support for our users.