Written questions by Khan.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to implement media literacy programmes in (a) local and (b) regional development strategies.

Government is adopting a holistic approach to media literacy, integrating it with digital inclusion and related policy on digital skills. The Digital Inclusion Action Plan outlines steps towards delivering digital inclusion for everyone in the UK, including supporting community initiatives for boosting digital skills and media literacy. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology aims to coordinate and embed media literacy through cross-cutting government strategies.Under updated media literacy duties, Ofcom is developing a ‘place-based’ model to embed media literacy into community digital strategies, working with the Good Things Foundation to support Digital Inclusion Hubs to offer media literacy.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to media literacy education.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology coordinates media literacy activity across government, including in its approach to digital inclusion which integrates policy on digital skills and media literacy. The Digital Inclusion Action Plan outlines steps to support community initiatives for boosting digital skills and media literacy.In formal education, the government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review which aims to ensure a rich, inclusive and innovative curriculum that readies young people for life and work. The Review’s interim report, published in March, highlights the need for a focus on media literacy in response to evolving technological challenges.

Innovation and Technology, what role his Department plans for (a) civil society and (b) community organisations in delivering media literacy programmes for adults; and what steps his Department is taking to assist relevant stakeholders with this.

Civil society and community organisations are instrumental in delivering media literacy programmes to adults, leveraging their expertise to support diverse and vulnerable groups. Libraries and community centres provide accessible locations where adults can get guidance and advice.The Digital Inclusion Action Plan outlines steps toward delivering digital inclusion and media literacy across the UK, including supporting local initiatives to increase digital participation. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology coordinates efforts across government departments and public services on media literacy, collaborating with Ofcom, which engages and convenes civil society and community organisations in its role as online safety regulator.

Innovation and Technology, when the Small but Risky taskforce will meet; and how the group will tackle the risk posed by dangerous online platforms.

In September 2024, a public exchange of letters between the Secretary of State and Ofcom’s CEO outlined information about the taskforce: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/about-ofcom/public-correspondence/2024/letter-from-dame-melanie-dawes-to-the-secretary-of-state-11-september-2024.pdf?v=380026. The taskforce is a dedicated supervision team within Ofcom which is developing and delivering a workplan, focusing on high priority themes (such as terror, hate and offences against women and girls) on small but risky services. Such services will be regulated by the illegal content and child safety duties of the Act. If there is evidence of non-compliance Ofcom will undertake enforcement action.

Innovation and Technology, what steps the Government is taking to ensure people with lived experience of (a) self harm and (b) suicide are involved in the implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023.

The government engages regularly with social media and search services and is clear that they should be taking action now to make their services safe for users.Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services must prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide and self-harm content, and children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instructions for suicide and self-harm.The government are committed to continuing to engage with those with lived experience and keeping online safety policy under review and will take whatever steps are needed to protect the public.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to increase awareness of the provisions of the Online Safety Act 2023 to help tackle suicide and self-harm content on smaller online platforms.

The Online Safety Act will require in-scope user-to-user and search services – regardless of their size or reach – to prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide and self-harm content, and children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instructions for suicide and self-harm.In September 2024, the Secretary of State wrote to Ofcom to ask them about their plans to regulate ‘small but risky’ services. Ofcom have set up a designated taskforce to supervise these services. Ofcom will undertake enforcement action against these services if they do not comply with the Act’s duties. Ofcom also has a programme of outreach work to help services understand their new duties.

Innovation and Technology, whether the Government is taking steps to encourage (a) social media and (b) search platforms to go beyond the requirements of the Online Safety Act 2023 in reducing access to harmful suicide and self-harm content.

The government engages regularly with social media and search services and is clear that they should be taking action now to make their services safe for users.Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services must prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide and self-harm content, and children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instructions for suicide and self-harm.The government are committed to continuing to engage with those with lived experience and keeping online safety policy under review and will take whatever steps are needed to protect the public.

Innovation and Technology, what was the total allocation of funding from the Life Science Innovative Manufacturing Fund to projects aimed at improving the (a) supply and (b) distribution of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy since 2 March 2022.

The Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund has – since its inception in March 2022 – supported a wide range of projects across the life sciences sector, able to manufacture different types of life-saving medicines and medical devices. Several of these could have the capability to manufacture medicines such as pancreatic enzyme replacement therapies. The latest iteration of this fund will allocate up to £520 million to deliver economic growth and build health resilience. The fund is currently open to applications, and we encourage companies with eligible life sciences manufacturing projects to apply.

Innovation and Technology, how much funding his Department plans to provide for research into musculoskeletal treatments in each of the next five years.

The Government does not generally ringfence funding for particular areas of research. In line with the Haldane principle, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and other Government funders award grants to the best proposals that are submitted through a process of expert peer review. UKRI delivers a substantial portfolio of researcher-led projects spanning understanding musculoskeletal biology through to the development of therapies for arthritis, pain, neuromuscular disease, and osteoporosis. The recent Budget set out DSIT’s overall R&D funding, of £13.9bn for 2025/26. Further details regarding this funding allocation will be announced in due course, and before the start of the financial year.