Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

Innovation and Technology, whether (a) he and (b) his Department have had discussions with Nostrada.ai since 5 July 2024.

We are committed to building an AI sector that can scale and win globally.As the Government takes the AI Opportunities Action Plan forward, the Secretary of State and the rest of his department will continue to engage widely with stakeholders.Ministerial meetings are published according to normal transparency requirements on the GOV.UK website; however, no meetings have taken place with Nostrada.ai.

Innovation and Technology, how the Government will fine firms that fail to inform Ofcom of age assurance processes that prevent children’s access to online content.

The Online Safety Act 2023 establishes Ofcom as independent regulator for online safety in the UK. Ofcom has powers to sanction services in-scope of the Act who do not comply with their duties under the Act, including the child safety duties and age assurance provisions.Ofcom’s enforcement powers will include directing services to take measures to comply with their duties, fining companies up to £18 million, or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue (whichever is the greater), and initiating business disruption measures.Ofcom has published enforcement guidance illustrating how it will calculate penalties in a proportionate, case-by-case way.

Innovation and Technology, what progress he has made on the installation of a subsea data connection for the Falkland Islands.

The installation of subsea telecoms cables is generally a commercial enterprise. DSIT is not currently engaged in any work to create a connection to the Falkland Islands.

Innovation and Technology, how many (a) phones, (b) laptops and (c) other electronic devices have been lost by their Department since 5 July 2024.

The following table includes the number of lost department-issued devices by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology since 5 July 2024.Breakdown of department-issued equipment typeNumber of lost itemsMobile phones60Laptops8Other electronic devices0

Innovation and Technology, how much was allocated to Three Rs funding in the 2024-25 financial year; and how much he plans to allocate in the 2025-26 financial year.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has a diverse portfolio of direct investments in the 3Rs and supports research that underpins advancements in this area. From April 2020 - 2025 UKRI invested ~£10m /year in the NC3Rs. The combined investment in this area in 2024/25 is expected to be ~£26m, including additional £5m funding to the NC3Rs from DSIT. We cannot confirm the 2025/26 allocation, as UKRI is currently conducting a strategic review of the NC3Rs to determine the optimal level of future investment. This approach ensures decisions are informed by rigorous analysis and are aligned with UKRI’s long-term goals.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 34051 on Antarctic: Finance, how much funding his Department has provided to the British Antarctic Survey in the latest period for which data is available.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5th March to Question UIN 33658.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help reduce online (a) misogyny and (b) misandry.

The Online Safety Act requires all platforms to proactively tackle the most harmful illegal content including illegal misogyny and misandry. Where this type of abuse is not illegal, Category 1 services will have extra duties, requiring them to establish user empowerment tools, enabling all adult users to have greater control over their online experience. Services likely to be accessed by children must provide safety measures protecting children from harmful and age-inappropriate content and activity. The Act requires Ofcom, the regulator, to publish guidance about protecting women and girls online, which they published in draft for consultation on 25 February.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on the regulatory approval of new approach methodologies.

The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”. The Government is working to understand the international drivers and challenges to integrating non-animal methods into regulatory safety testing. This includes engaging with government scientists and regulators, including the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Food Standards Agency and Environment Agency, as well as international medicines and chemicals regulators as to how we will take this commitment forward.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions his Department has had with Swissmedic regarding the regulatory approval of New Approach Methods.

The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”. The Government is working to understand the international drivers and challenges to integrating non-animal methods into regulatory safety testing. This includes engaging with government scientists and regulators, including the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Food Standards Agency and Environment Agency, as well as international medicines and chemicals regulators as to how we will take this commitment forward.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions his Department has had with the European Medicines Agency regarding the regulatory approval of New Approach Methods.

The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”. The Government is working to understand the international drivers and challenges to integrating non-animal methods into regulatory safety testing. This includes engaging with government scientists and regulators, including the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Food Standards Agency and Environment Agency, as well as international medicines and chemicals regulators as to how we will take this commitment forward.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions his Department has had with the US Food and Drug Administration regarding the regulatory approval of New Approach Methods.

The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”. The Government is working to understand the international drivers and challenges to integrating non-animal methods into regulatory safety testing. This includes engaging with government scientists and regulators, including the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Food Standards Agency and Environment Agency, as well as international medicines and chemicals regulators as to how we will take this commitment forward.

Innovation and Technology, how much funding his Department plans to allocate to scientific research projects in Antarctica.

The British Antarctic Survey’s current allocation from UK Research and Innovation’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is £116 million for 2024/25.DSIT's R&D budget is rising to £13.9 billion for the 2025/26 financial year. The Department will announce further details on the allocation of the budget in 2025/26 in due course. Last July, the Chancellor launched a multi-year spending review, which will conclude in June 2025, and will allow government to set out its spending plans for science and technology investment over the longer-term.

Innovation and Technology, how much funding his Department allocated to the British Antarctic Survey in the 2024-25 financial year.

The British Antarctic Survey’s current allocation from UK Research and Innovation’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is £116 million for 2024/25.DSIT's R&D budget is rising to £13.9 billion for the 2025/26 financial year. The Department will announce further details on the allocation of the budget in 2025/26 in due course. Last July, the Chancellor launched a multi-year spending review, which will conclude in June 2025, and will allow government to set out its spending plans for science and technology investment over the longer-term.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with the Natural Environment Research Council on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published.

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper. Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published.

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper. Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with Research England on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published.

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper. Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published.

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper. Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with the Economic and Social Research Council on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published.

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper. Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with the Arts and Humanities Research Council on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published.

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper. Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with the Medical Research Council on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published.

In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper. Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.