Written questions by Wilson.

Innovation and Technology, what action has been taken since she met with a group of bereaved families on 19th January to stop UK users accessing a suicide forum responsible for over 135 UK deaths.

The Secretary of State has been clear Ofcom has full backing to use its enforcement powers and welcomes its investigation into extremely harmful suicide forums.Ofcom’s provisional decision published on 27 February is clear that unless its concerns are fully addressed, it will consider using all of the powers available to it, including, in most serious cases of non-compliance, imposing business disruption measures.One of the first things the Secretary of State did in the job was to make self-harm a priority offence under the Online Safety Act, triggering the strongest possible legal protections. She has been clear she will not hesitate to go further if needed and regularly talks to Ofcom about ensuring enforcement is strong.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment has been made of Ofcom's (a) ability to implement interim business disruption measures and (b) effectiveness at preventing illegal content online.

Ofcom’s online safety budget and expert team ensure its duties can be performed effectively. Ofcom has spent approximately £281.3 million on online safety since 2020, including a projected spend of £92 million for 2025/26.The Online Safety Act provides Ofcom with a range of enforcement powers, including business disruption measures, which can include fast tracked interim service restriction orders or access restriction orders, where necessary. These measures are sanctions of last resort, available where serious non‑compliance persists.The Secretary of State has written to Ofcom to underline the Government’s full support for the regulator using all the powers Parliament has provided it.Ofcom is independent, and early enforcement activity is already helping to prevent and address illegal content online.

Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help ensure the safety of young people online.

Protecting children online is a top priority. The Online Safety Act brought in some of the strongest protections for children globally.We have already taken steps to build on these by introducing new priority offences and tackling intimate image abuse and we have launched a landmark consultation on further measures to protect children online, including whether there should be a minimum age for social media, and restrictions to AI chatbots and gaming.Finally, we are legislating to ensure we can act quickly on the findings of the consultation because no child should have to wait to experience a safe, fulfilling life online.

Innovation and Technology, when she plans to respond to the hon. Member for Twickenham's correspondence, reference MC2024-00009674.

I thank the hon. Member for highlighting concerns about affordable software licenses for public libraries. This is a complex issue that has arisen from a change in Microsoft’s policy regarding the transition of libraries from Education to Not-for-Profit (NFP) pricing.Since the issue has been raised with DSIT, my officials have been working with DCMS, as the Department with responsibility for libraries, and with Microsoft, to address the practical challenges that these important public institutions face in renewing their software licenses without a charity or company number. Microsoft provided library services with initial guidance to assist in obtaining the not-for-profit discounts to which they are entitled.In the months since this guidance was issued, it has been tested with library services and DCMS have rendered assistance in navigating the process. DCMS have identified areas where improvements can be made to guidance for both library services and resellers, which we will continue to discuss with Microsoft to ensure libraries can access affordable licenses going forward.

Innovation and Technology, when he plans to respond to the correspondence of 13 March 2025 from the hon. Member for Twickenham, case reference MC2025-00007485.

The Department attaches great importance to providing timely responses to correspondence and is working hard to improve our processes, including through greater digitisation. A response to this letter was regrettably delayed by administrative error, for which the Department sincerely apologises. We issued a full response on 16 May 2025.

Innovation and Technology, when he plans to make a policy announcement on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence, following the consultation on which closed on 25 February 2025.

The Government received over 11,500 responses to the consultation on copyright and AI. It is now carefully considering these responses, and a Government response will be published when this work is complete. Government amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill commit the Government to publishing a full report on some of the issues covered in the consultation within 12 months of Royal Assent.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Advanced Research and Invention Agency on geoengineering proposals that aim to block sunlight.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with ARIA on a range of matters. As set out in ARIA’s Framework Agreement, ARIA has unique operational freedoms, including over its research and project choice and its procedures. This independence allows ARIA to take bold steps to better understand the world we live in, and the Government supports ARIA exploring critical areas like this.The government is not in favour of using Solar Radiation Modification. ARIA is an independent research body and they are conducting cautious, controlled research aimed at improving understanding of its risks and impacts. The government supports ARIA’s mission to fund transformational research programmes with long-term benefits.For further detail on ARIA’s ‘Exploring Climate Cooling’ programme specifically, I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I provided on 2 May 2025 to Question UIN 47970.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the number of deaths associated with pro-anorexia coaches operating online.

DSIT published an impact assessment for the Online Safety Act which contains estimates on the number of firms in scope. DSIT has not made a specific estimate in these areas nor has set specific targets.The Act will require in-scope services to prevent all users from accessing illegal suicide and self-harm content including illegal eating disorder content, as well as protecting children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instruction for suicide, self-injury or eating disorders online.Ofcom, responsible for the Act’s implementation, will provide guidance or codes of practice relating to the safety duties.DSIT is developing a framework to evaluate the Act’s implementation and core outcomes.

Innovation and Technology, what estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) suicide and (b) eating disorder forums accessible to UK internet users.

DSIT published an impact assessment for the Online Safety Act which contains estimates on the number of firms in scope. DSIT has not made a specific estimate in these areas nor has set specific targets.The Act will require in-scope services to prevent all users from accessing illegal suicide and self-harm content including illegal eating disorder content, as well as protecting children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instruction for suicide, self-injury or eating disorders online.Ofcom, responsible for the Act’s implementation, will provide guidance or codes of practice relating to the safety duties.DSIT is developing a framework to evaluate the Act’s implementation and core outcomes.

Innovation and Technology, what guidance he plans to issue on whether seeking a suicide partner online is regulated under the Online Safety Act 2023.

DSIT published an impact assessment for the Online Safety Act which contains estimates on the number of firms in scope. DSIT has not made a specific estimate in these areas nor has set specific targets.The Act will require in-scope services to prevent all users from accessing illegal suicide and self-harm content including illegal eating disorder content, as well as protecting children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instruction for suicide, self-injury or eating disorders online.Ofcom, responsible for the Act’s implementation, will provide guidance or codes of practice relating to the safety duties.DSIT is developing a framework to evaluate the Act’s implementation and core outcomes.

Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has set a target for reduction in the numbers of deaths by suicide associated with suicide forums following full implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023.

DSIT published an impact assessment for the Online Safety Act which contains estimates on the number of firms in scope. DSIT has not made a specific estimate in these areas nor has set specific targets.The Act will require in-scope services to prevent all users from accessing illegal suicide and self-harm content including illegal eating disorder content, as well as protecting children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instruction for suicide, self-injury or eating disorders online.Ofcom, responsible for the Act’s implementation, will provide guidance or codes of practice relating to the safety duties.DSIT is developing a framework to evaluate the Act’s implementation and core outcomes.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential (a) implications for his policies of the number of pro-anorexia coaches and (b) impact of such coaches on mental health services.

DSIT published an impact assessment for the Online Safety Act which contains estimates on the number of firms in scope. DSIT has not made a specific estimate in these areas nor has set specific targets.The Act will require in-scope services to prevent all users from accessing illegal suicide and self-harm content including illegal eating disorder content, as well as protecting children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instruction for suicide, self-injury or eating disorders online.Ofcom, responsible for the Act’s implementation, will provide guidance or codes of practice relating to the safety duties.DSIT is developing a framework to evaluate the Act’s implementation and core outcomes.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2024 to Question 12521 on Dogs: Animal Experiments, when he plans to publish further details on plans to accelerate the development, validation and uptake of alternatives to animal testing.

The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”. Our approach has been to support the development and application of approaches that replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research (the 3Rs).We recognise that any work to phase out animal testing and accelerate the development, validation and uptake of alternatives to animal testing must be in lock step with partners, and so we are meeting with stakeholders to pursue this work. We will make any announcements on our plans in due course.