Written questions by Whittingdale.

Innovation and Technology, if he will publish the (a) membership, (b) minutes and (c) Terms of Reference of the (i) working groups on AI and copyright and (ii) technical sub-groups.

We have committed to establishing technical working groups to inform our approach to copyright and AI. They will be designed to bring together a range of experts and stakeholders. A full list of attendees and Terms of Reference will be published in due course.

Innovation and Technology, in what way he plans to appoint the Chairs of the technical sub-groups on (a) AI and (b) copyright; and what criteria will be used to ensure their impartiality.

We have committed to establishing technical working groups to inform our approach to copyright and AI. They will be designed to bring together a range of experts and stakeholders. The initial groups are being jointly chaired by SoS DSIT and SoS DCMS. Details on the subsequent meetings will be set out in due course.

What proportion of cancer patients receive treatment within 62 days in (a) England and (b) Maldon constituency.

The latest data for England shows that 67.1% of people started treatment within 62 days of referral. Data on the 62 day referral to treatment cancer waiting time standard is available by integrated care board (ICB) area, but not by constituency. The Maldon constituency falls within the Mid and South Essex ICB, and therefore the following table shows the proportion of cancer patients who receive treatment within 62 days in June 2024 and June 2025, and the change over this 12 month period, for both England and the Mid and South Essex ICB:Cancer62 day standard (85% standard)June 2025National67.1%ICB43.5%June 2024National67.9%ICB47.8%12-month changeNational-0.8%ICB-4.3%

What steps he is taking to publicise the need for vaccination against (a) influenza and (b) covid-19.

This year, we are carrying out a major campaign aimed at eligible people, encouraging them to take up their vaccinations, supported by millions of targeted emails, texts and letters sent nationally. The winter vaccination national booking service is opening earlier than ever for advance bookings, supported by a press and social media launch.The Department works closely with partners at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England to produce a variety of influenza and COVID-19 communication tools and materials including translation of information and guidance materials into over 30 languages; in accessible formats including braille, audio, large print, Easy Read and British Sign Language; dedicated products for target population groups for individual vaccine programmes; and focused work with relevant third sector organisations ahead of major campaigns.For the 2025-26 flu season, we are encouraging those most at risk of serious illness to get vaccinated. Targeted communications to pregnant women and the parents of eligible children started this month. The campaign for other eligible groups will run from October 2025 and will consist of TV, radio advertising, digital advertising, both social and display, supported by search and partnership activity.Additionally, NHS England has developed an enhanced campaign aimed at improving flu uptake among frontline health and social care workers, using multiple ways to reach staff including workplace communications, partnerships with unions and professional bodies, and materials tailored for different healthcare roles.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Authorised Push Payment framework in tackling financial fraud.

As an important point of principle, the Government does not step in to pay compensation in respect of failed financial services firms that fall outside of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Doing so would create the wrong set of incentives for individuals and an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer. The Government does not ordinarily step in to pay compensation to consumers in relation to allegations of fraud, investment losses, mis-selling or mis-buying of investments. However, in some cases of fraud, individuals may be able to seek reimbursement from their bank. The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is the independent regulator with responsibility for Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud reimbursement. The PSR’s mandatory reimbursement regime, for APP scams taking place over the Faster Payment system, came into force on 7 October 2024 and covers transactions occurring on or after that date. It requires payment service providers to reimburse victims of APP scam losses up to the value of £85,000. The PSR has committed to commission an independent post implementation review of its policy after 12 months of the policy being in force. Transactions that occurred before 7 October 2024, may be governed by the Contingent Reimbursement Model (CRM), a voluntary code signed by the UK’s largest banks and building societies that came into force in May 2019. However, it is important to note that not all banks or building societies are party to the CRM code. The CRM code is overseen by the Lending Standards Board and more information can be found on their website. Where a reimbursement claim is unsuccessful, victims may have access to recourse through the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). This includes fraud, providing the activity is within the FOS’s jurisdiction, which is set by the FCA. Any criminal investigation would be a matter for the police. Unfortunately, the Government is unable to intervene in individual cases, but I would encourage victims to continue to engage with their banks directly in order to seek a timely resolution to this matter. However, it is important to prevent fraud from happening in the first place. HM Treasury is working with colleagues in the Home Office as they develop a new, expanded Fraud Strategy. This will be published in due course as part of the Government’s Plan for Change and in line with our manifesto commitments.

What steps she is taking to ensure that investors in 79th Group receive adequate compensation.

As an important point of principle, the Government does not step in to pay compensation in respect of failed financial services firms that fall outside of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Doing so would create the wrong set of incentives for individuals and an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer. The Government does not ordinarily step in to pay compensation to consumers in relation to allegations of fraud, investment losses, mis-selling or mis-buying of investments. However, in some cases of fraud, individuals may be able to seek reimbursement from their bank. The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is the independent regulator with responsibility for Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud reimbursement. The PSR’s mandatory reimbursement regime, for APP scams taking place over the Faster Payment system, came into force on 7 October 2024 and covers transactions occurring on or after that date. It requires payment service providers to reimburse victims of APP scam losses up to the value of £85,000. The PSR has committed to commission an independent post implementation review of its policy after 12 months of the policy being in force. Transactions that occurred before 7 October 2024, may be governed by the Contingent Reimbursement Model (CRM), a voluntary code signed by the UK’s largest banks and building societies that came into force in May 2019. However, it is important to note that not all banks or building societies are party to the CRM code. The CRM code is overseen by the Lending Standards Board and more information can be found on their website. Where a reimbursement claim is unsuccessful, victims may have access to recourse through the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). This includes fraud, providing the activity is within the FOS’s jurisdiction, which is set by the FCA. Any criminal investigation would be a matter for the police. Unfortunately, the Government is unable to intervene in individual cases, but I would encourage victims to continue to engage with their banks directly in order to seek a timely resolution to this matter. However, it is important to prevent fraud from happening in the first place. HM Treasury is working with colleagues in the Home Office as they develop a new, expanded Fraud Strategy. This will be published in due course as part of the Government’s Plan for Change and in line with our manifesto commitments.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of Financial Conduct Authority support for victims of financial fraud in the context of the insolvency of 79th Group.

As an important point of principle, the Government does not step in to pay compensation in respect of failed financial services firms that fall outside of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Doing so would create the wrong set of incentives for individuals and an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer. The Government does not ordinarily step in to pay compensation to consumers in relation to allegations of fraud, investment losses, mis-selling or mis-buying of investments. However, in some cases of fraud, individuals may be able to seek reimbursement from their bank. The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is the independent regulator with responsibility for Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud reimbursement. The PSR’s mandatory reimbursement regime, for APP scams taking place over the Faster Payment system, came into force on 7 October 2024 and covers transactions occurring on or after that date. It requires payment service providers to reimburse victims of APP scam losses up to the value of £85,000. The PSR has committed to commission an independent post implementation review of its policy after 12 months of the policy being in force. Transactions that occurred before 7 October 2024, may be governed by the Contingent Reimbursement Model (CRM), a voluntary code signed by the UK’s largest banks and building societies that came into force in May 2019. However, it is important to note that not all banks or building societies are party to the CRM code. The CRM code is overseen by the Lending Standards Board and more information can be found on their website. Where a reimbursement claim is unsuccessful, victims may have access to recourse through the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). This includes fraud, providing the activity is within the FOS’s jurisdiction, which is set by the FCA. Any criminal investigation would be a matter for the police. Unfortunately, the Government is unable to intervene in individual cases, but I would encourage victims to continue to engage with their banks directly in order to seek a timely resolution to this matter. However, it is important to prevent fraud from happening in the first place. HM Treasury is working with colleagues in the Home Office as they develop a new, expanded Fraud Strategy. This will be published in due course as part of the Government’s Plan for Change and in line with our manifesto commitments.

How many visas were issued to citizens of the Russian Federation to visit the UK in each of the last five years.

The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visas by nationality and visa type in the Immigration system statistics publication. Data on visas issued are published in table ‘Vis_D02’ of the ‘detailed entry clearance dataset’. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates up to the end of March 2025.Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

Whether chemostat can be prescribed by the NHS for the treatment of patients with ocular melanoma.

Chemosaturation therapy, often referred to as chemostat, is used to treat cancer that has spread to the liver arising from ocular melanoma. It is not used to treat ocular melanoma alone.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published guidance in 2021, through its interventional procedures programme, that recommends that chemosaturation can be used for patients with secondary liver metastases resulting from a primary ocular melanoma.NHS England considered the case for the commissioning of chemosaturation for liver metastases from ocular melanoma in 2016. At that time, NHS England concluded that there was insufficient clinical evidence to support the proposal to make the treatment available for patients with ocular melanoma in the National Health Service.In December 2024, NHS England announced the roll out of a new treatment across England called tebentafusp, which is now available for patients with uveal melanoma, which is the most common form of ocular melanoma.

With reference to chapter 2, section 1 of the Green Paper entitled Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working, published on 18 March 2025, whether Universal Credit claimants currently in receipt of the health element will continue to receive the health element after the Work Capability Assessment is abolished in the 2028-29 financial year if they do not qualify for the Personal Independence Payment daily living component.

Our Pathways to Work Green Paper set out why we are scrapping the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). We want to end the binary categorisation of groups and labelling as either ‘can or can’t work’. Instead, any extra financial support for health conditions in UC will be assessed via a single assessment – the PIP assessment – and be based on whether someone is receiving any Daily Living award in PIP, not on capacity to work. This will de-couple access to the health element in from work status, so people can be confident that the act of taking steps towards and into employment will not put their benefit entitlement at risk. The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill we recently introduced will freeze the health top-up at its current rate for existing claimants for the rest of this Parliament. This is twinned with delivering the first ever sustained, above-inflation rise to the standard allowance, with a cash increase of around £725 a year for single claimants aged 25 and over by the end of this Parliament. This is around £250 higher than an inflation-only increase. Alongside these changes we are also looking to provide financial protection in Universal Credit for people with the most severe, life-long health conditions and those who are nearing the end of their lives. This will mean that anyone who meets the Severe Conditions Criteria (existing criteria for people with life-long conditions who can never work); and/or the Special Rules for End of Life (existing rules for people with 12 months or less to live to get faster, easier access to certain benefits) will continue to receive the existing, higher health top-up in Universal Credit over this Parliament. In addition, people who meet the Severe Conditions Criteria will never face a reassessment for Universal Credit, as we committed to do in the Green Paper – removing unnecessary stress, anxiety and uncertainty. As a result, we estimate more than 200,000 people with the most severe, life-long conditions will be protected by the end of the Parliament.

How many over 75s have been prosecuted for licence fee evasion since 2020.

Between the period January 2020 and September 2024 (latest available data), there have been two defendants over 75 years of age prosecuted for television license evasion.Defendant age as reported here is taken at the point of sentencing date. Therefore, a defendant reported here may have been aged under 75 at the time of the offence.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of TV viewing transitioning to online delivery digital viewing on linear TV broadcasting on her Department's policy aims for local TV.

The Government recognises the important role that local TV continues to play in the wider broadcasting ecosystem. That is why last year we brought forward legislation to enable Ofcom to renew the licences for the local TV multiplex and the 34 individual local TV services. Local TV services provide audiences with local content, including news and current affairs. This contributes to our broader policy objectives of ensuring a strong local media sector and keeping communities informed about local issues and decision making. We will consider how we can further safeguard local TV’s contribution to these objectives through the Local Media Strategy.However, at the same time we understand that there are challenges facing the local TV sector, as there are all broadcasters. The shift from broadcast to online viewing has led to audiences becoming increasingly fragmented, while increasing distribution costs.In particular, we are aware of the local TV sector’s concerns that they will not receive prominence for their internet programme services (apps) as part of the new online prominence regime established in the Media Act 2024. At the moment we are not aware of the existence of any local TV on-demand apps. However, we would strongly welcome an app being brought to market that improves the availability of local content. This would enable the Government to consider whether the app should receive prominence under the online prominence regime in the same way local TV services have enjoyed prominence on DTT, satellite and cable platforms since they began broadcasting in 2013.We are also aware of other distribution challenges that are material to local TV’s future success and sustainability, including the long term future of the DTT platform itself. We have launched a project to consider the future of TV distribution, with local TV representatives included on our stakeholder forum. As part of this work, we will also keep under review the policy framework which requires local TV services to broadcast over DTT as the market and viewer behaviour continues to evolve, subject to broader decisions about the future of DTT.

When he plans to publish the report of the CQC inspection of maternity services in Mid and South Essex carried out in March 2024.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is working to publish its report following its inspection of maternity services in Mid and South Essex at the earliest opportunity. Publication of the report, following the Care Quality Commission’s inspection of maternity services in Mid and South Essex, has been delayed due to system and technology issues that have occurred during a large-scale transformation programme within the CQC. Details about any enforcement action, including the Section 31 against Broomfield Hospital, will be included in the full report.The CQC is taking urgent steps to ensure that it is able to publish inspection reports in a more timely manner. While the publication of some reports has been delayed, any immediate action that is needed to take to protect people using these services will not have been affected, and is being acted on appropriately.

If he will publish details of the Section 31 notice issued to Mid and South Essex Hospitals relating to maternity services at Broomfield Hospital.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is working to publish its report following its inspection of maternity services in Mid and South Essex at the earliest opportunity. Publication of the report, following the Care Quality Commission’s inspection of maternity services in Mid and South Essex, has been delayed due to system and technology issues that have occurred during a large-scale transformation programme within the CQC. Details about any enforcement action, including the Section 31 against Broomfield Hospital, will be included in the full report.The CQC is taking urgent steps to ensure that it is able to publish inspection reports in a more timely manner. While the publication of some reports has been delayed, any immediate action that is needed to take to protect people using these services will not have been affected, and is being acted on appropriately.

Media and Sport, how much funding her Department plans to provide for the Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme in the 2025-26 financial year.

Departmental settlements have been set following the Budget announcement on October 30. Individual programmes will now be assessed during the departmental Business Planning process.

Whether she plans to introduce legislation to govern the use of facial recognition technology by the police.

Live facial technology is being used effectively by some police forces to identify suspects more quickly and accurately. Its use is governed by data protection, equality, and human rights legislation supplemented by specific policing guidance. However, I am aware of the concerns some have expressed about the lack of specific statutory provision for police use of the technology.At the Westminster Hall Debate on live facial recognition on 13 November, I was clear that the government wants to take time to think carefully about how much support the police may need from Government and Parliament to set and manage the rules for the use of this technology.I will also be listening to those with views on the legal framework and to the public in the coming months. This will include a series of roundtable meetings in December and January with regulators, civil society groups and industry.

When she plans to hold roundtable discussions on the police's use of facial recognition technology; and who will attend the roundtable discussions.

Live facial technology is being used effectively by some police forces to identify suspects more quickly and accurately. Its use is governed by data protection, equality, and human rights legislation supplemented by specific policing guidance. However, I am aware of the concerns some have expressed about the lack of specific statutory provision for police use of the technology.At the Westminster Hall Debate on live facial recognition on 13 November, I was clear that the government wants to take time to think carefully about how much support the police may need from Government and Parliament to set and manage the rules for the use of this technology.I will also be listening to those with views on the legal framework and to the public in the coming months. This will include a series of roundtable meetings in December and January with regulators, civil society groups and industry.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2024 to Question 8499 on Information Commission, what implications for the Digital Information and Smart Data Bill were discussed with the Information Commissioner's Office.

The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology has worked with John Edwards, the Information Commissioner (IC) on the development of the upcoming Data (Use and Access) Bill.When they met on 30 July, DSIT SoS thanked the IC for his and ICO’s officials’ ongoing support in the development of Bill, and they discussed the plans to give the ICO new, stronger powers and a more modern structure.The IC supports the aims of the Bill and is a vital stakeholder in the Bill’s success. DSIT’s engagement with the IC also fulfils the Government's statutory duty to consult with the ICO when developing policy proposals relating to the processing of personal data.

Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Office on the potential impact of the planned switch from the Public Switched Telephone Network on emergency services.

Yes, the Department engages regularly with the Home Office to identify and mitigate risks associated with the Public Switched Telephone Network switchover, including risks posed to the emergency services. Mostly recently, on 17 September the Department chaired a cross-Government engagement group that the Home Office attended, which included a discussion of the impact on emergency services.The Department also supports the 999 / 112 Liaison Committee chaired by the emergency services, which coordinates and manages all risks and issues related to 999 and ensures efficient handling of emergency calls between the public, call handling agents, and emergency authorities.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 8498 on Digital Technology: Disadvantaged, what steps he is taking to tackle digital exclusion.

Unlike the previous government, this government takes tackling digital exclusion as a priority. That is why we are working to develop our approach with a view to taking coherent and consistent action across government. We expect to make further announcements soon.