Written questions by Gilbert.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of a Secondary Publishing right in relation to (a) the dissemination of publicly funded research and (b) value for money.

Awaiting answer.

Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has formally asked the Intellectual Property Office to assess the feasibility of a Secondary Publishing Right.

Awaiting answer.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the report entitled Independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender, published on 19 March 2025, what steps he plans to take to ensure reliable sources for sex data are used for the proposed digital verification service.

The Government recognises the importance of accurate data and statistics on sex and gender, and has shared the independent review’s recommendations with departments for consideration in ongoing policy work. The Government Digital Service is also developing data standards for attributes of a person with input from across the public sector. Digital verification services, and public authorities processing personal data which may be used by such services during the verification process, are subject to data protection legislation which requires the personal data they’re processing to be relevant and accurate for the purpose for which it is being used.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle pornography harms.

Under the Online Safety Act, all in-scope services that allow pornography must use highly effective age assurance to prevent children accessing it, including user-to-user services and services which publish pornography. Under the Act, platforms must proactively tackle the most harmful illegal content including extreme pornography.Separate to provisions in the Online Safety Act, the Pornography Review, led by Independent Lead Reviewer Baroness Gabby Bertin, will explore the effectiveness of regulation, legislation and the law enforcement response to pornography. The government expects the Review to present its final report by the end of the year.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to prevent children being exposed to pornography.

The Government is committed to keeping children safe online. Our priority is the effective implementation of the Online Safety Act so that children benefit from its wide-reaching protections.The Act requires that all in scope services that allow pornography use highly effective age assurance to prevent children from accessing it, including services that host user-generated content, and services which publish pornography. Ofcom has robust enforcement powers available against companies who fail to fulfil their duties.