Committee publication · Correspondence · 4 March 2026
Correspondence from the Minister of State for Digital Government and Data relating to the Digital Economy Act 2017, dated 11 February 2026.
Summary
Minister Ian Murray informs the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee that commencement regulations made 11 February 2026 have activated chapters 1, 3 and 4 of Part 5 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 in Northern Ireland, enabling public authorities to share data for public service delivery, debt management, and fraud prevention. The same regulations commence section 123 of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 across the UK, extending data-sharing powers to support businesses and charities alongside individuals.
Key findings
- Chapters 1, 3 and 4 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 (covering Public Service Delivery, Debt and Fraud powers) commenced in Northern Ireland on 11 February 2026 via commencement regulations.
- Section 123 of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 simultaneously commenced across the entire UK, amending section 35 of the DEA.
- The extension to section 35 enables public authorities to share data to support businesses and charities, broadening the previous scope which applied only to individuals and households.
- The government positions the commencement as aligning Northern Ireland with England, Wales and Scotland to create a unified public sector data-sharing approach.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Ian Murray MP, Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Notable line
“By aligning Northern Ireland with England, Wales and Scotland, the government is fostering a more unified approach to addressing data sharing challenges faced across the public …”
Key Quotes
“These powers enable specified public authorities to share information to improve public services, manage and reduce debt, and combat fraud.”
“By aligning Northern Ireland with England, Wales and Scotland, the government is fostering a more unified approach to addressing data sharing challenges faced across the public sector …”
“Section 123 amends the DEA to extend the public service delivery power in section 35 to enable public authorities to share data to support businesses and charities (previously this power applied only for supporting individuals and households).”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗