Written questions by Pinto-Duschinsky.

Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to take steps with industry to help improve (a) broadband and (b) other internet speed in Hendon.

According to the independent website Thinkbroadband.com, over 99% of premises in the Hendon constituency can already access superfast broadband speeds (>=30 Mbps), and over 75% of premises can access a gigabit-capable broadband connection.We anticipate that the majority of the premises in urban areas such as Hendon will receive a gigabit-capable connection through the commercial market, although we are conscious that connections to some properties in some areas can be affected by complex wayleave negotiations. Any remaining premises will be considered for support through the government’s Project Gigabit.

Innovation and Technology, what recent estimate he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the number and proportion of antisemitic attacks associated with small forums spreading online hate.

The Online Safety Act (OSA) establishes Ofcom as the UK online safety regulator. The OSA gives online platforms new duties where there are risks of their services being used to carry out certain priority offences, including posting illegal antisemitic content which stirs up hatred. Ofcom will set out steps in codes of practice that different platforms can take to fulfil these duties. Ofcom must consult on proposed steps. For these consultations, it publishes evidence about in-scope harms. For example, in November 2023, it published research into these matters for its consultation on its OSA ‘illegal content duties’ proposals.https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/protecting-people-from-illegal-content-online

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he mas made of the potential merits of using powers under Schedule 11 of the Online Safety Act to extend category 1 regulation to online forums to help tackle antisemitic hate speech online.

The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology will make Regulations pertaining to Schedule 11 of the Online Safety Act as soon as reasonably practicable. Under the Act, all user-to-user services – including online forums - will be required to proactively tackle illegal hate speech, such as illegal antisemitic abuse. If such a service is likely to be accessed by children, they will also be required to protect children from encountering specific types of legal but harmful content. This includes legal content which is abusive or incites hate on the basis of race or religion.