Andrew Griffith MP: written questions
296 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Government Departments: TelecommunicationsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10180More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the implementation of AI technology for Government telecoms data.
Answer: Artificial Intelligence is at the heart of the UK Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country. The Secretary of State for the Departme...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record5G: Emergency ServicesHome OfficeTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10179More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on the potential merits of the adoption of standalone 5G for the emergency services.
Answer: DSIT and the Home Office work closely on the technical requirements for commercial mobile coverage. ESN will operate over a commercial mobile network based on technology designed to evolve and improve alongside consumer technologies.Currently 4G offers be...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record4G: AerialsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10178More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many 4G masts funded by his Department have been constructed since 5 July 2024.
Answer: As part of the publicly funded element of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) we can confirm that 11 masts have been built or upgraded for the programme since 5 July 2024. These masts have already been activated and are delivering reliable 4G coverage, enablin...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBroadbandDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10177More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will publish a breakdown of (a) average download speeds in megabits per second, (b) the level of availability of superfast broadband and (c) the level of availability of gigabit-c
Answer: Information on connectivity on a constituency-by-constituency basis across the UK is available from the local broadband tracker on ThinkBroadband: https://labs.thinkbroadband.com
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordUK Space Agency: ScotlandDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10176More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will visit the UK Space Agency’s office in Scotland.
Answer: The Secretary of State for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology will consider visiting the UK Space Agency’s Scotland office as and when his diary allows, and is committed to supporting the growth of the Scottish space sector. My Ministeri...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCivil Servants: RecruitmentCabinet OfficeTabled 18 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9966More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance he issues to the Civil Service Commission on considering the Northcote-Trevelyan principles when assessing applications for appointment made by exception.
Answer: The statutory basis for the management of the Civil Service is set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. The Act requires the Civil Service Commission, which is independent of Government, to publish a set of principles to be applied fo...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: TelecommunicationsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8503More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the use of ISDN phone lines across Government.
Answer: No.
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDigital Technology: DisadvantagedDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8502More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to continue the inter-ministerial group on tackling digital exclusion.
Answer: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave to question 8498.
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordData Protection and Digital Information BillDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2024WithdrawnUIN 8501More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has met with his counterparts in the European Union to discuss the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordData Protection and Digital Information BillDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8500More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has met his counterparts in the EU to discuss the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill.
Answer: The Secretary of State met with the European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders on 16 September and 15 October to discuss a new Data Bill and the importance of efficient and safe personal data sharing between our two jurisdictions.
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordInformation CommissionDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8499More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with the Information Commissioner’s Office on the future development of an Information Commission.
Answer: The Secretary of State for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has been in contact with the Information Commissioner regarding the future development of the Information Commission. They met on 30 July and discussed the Digital Inf...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDigital Technology: DisadvantagedDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8498More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to continue the inter-ministerial group on tackling digital exclusion.
Answer: Promoting Digital Inclusion is a priority for me and for Government, which is why we believe it was a disgrace that the previous government did not introduce a new digital exclusion strategy for ten years. Digital inclusion is essential to our Missions, p...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Technology: ScotlandDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8497More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had meetings with the UK Space Agency to discuss the growth of Scotland’s space ecosystem.
Answer: The Secretary of State for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology is in regular discussion with the UK Space Agency, our key delivery partner, about Scotland's growing space sector as we recognise its crucial role in delivering our national ...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordQuantum Technology: RegulationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8496More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to page 41 of the Information Commissioner’s Office report on Quantum Technologies published on 9 October 2024, what assessment he has made of the potential implications
Answer: The government recognises the need to act to both unlock the opportunities of quantum computing and also address the potential risks of this technology.DSIT works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre to identify the mitigations that are require...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology: Departmental ResponsibilitiesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8495More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what proportion of his time the Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms dedicates to his ministerial role within his Department.
Answer: Half.
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordEuropean Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts: ContractsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8494More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 5708 on European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts: Finance, whether the contract for construction was advertised.
Answer: The contract was procured by the Government Property Agency through a framework (CCS RM6088, Construction Works and Associated Services, Lot 5, Construction Works & Associated Services (£80m+) National Framework) which was itself advertised. As part o...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordEuropean Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8493More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 5708 on European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts: Finance, what estimate his Department has made of the construction cost
Answer: The contract is subject to an ongoing commercial process, and it would therefore not be appropriate to share construction cost estimates.
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordQuantum Technology: RegulationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the response made to recommendation 5 in his Department's policy paper entitled Regulating quantum technology applications: government response to recommendations made
Answer: The government response to the Regulatory Horizons Council review outlines a phased and proportionate approach towards quantum regulation in order to support the responsible development of the sector. This includes:Influencing industry-led standards and i...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordScience and Innovation: ChinaDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8257More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in China.
Answer: Since taking office, I have been in contact and exchanged views on the UK-China Science and Technology relationship with Minister Yin Hejun, my counterpart in China’s Ministry of Science and Technology.
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpaceflight: ShetlandDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8256More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to visit the SaxaVord Spaceport in 2024.
Answer: A date has still to be arranged, but I intend to visit as soon as possible.
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordQuantum Technology: RegulationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8255More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has met with the National Quantum Technologies Programme Strategic Advisory Board to discuss how to reduce the potential impact of regulation on the levels of innovation in t
Answer: The Department of Science and Innovation and Technology regularly consults the National Quantum Technologies Programme Strategic Advisory Board (SAB) on all aspects of the National Quantum Strategy, including regulation.SAB members have advised on and inp...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBioengineeringDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8254More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to publish a new National Vision for Engineering Biology.
Answer: DSIT has not announced any intention to publish a new National Vision for Engineering Biology.
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordGenomics: ChinaDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8253More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Answer of 25 April 2024 to Question 22294 on Genomics: China, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the cross-departmental programme of work to
Answer: Through the delivery of the UK Biological Security Strategy, the Government is committed ensuring the UK is resilient to a spectrum of biological threats, as well as being a world leader in innovation. As part of this Strategy, the Government is undertaki...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordICT: EdinburghDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8252More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with the University of Edinburgh following the cancellation of the exascale supercomputer project.
Answer: The Government is committed to building compute infrastructure that delivers growth and opportunity for people across the UK. My Department and I regularly engage with a range of organisations across the science and research sector, including the Universi...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBioengineering: DatabasesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8251More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions on national security considerations relating to biological data with (a) Genomics England, (b) UK Biobank and (c) NIHR Bioresource.
Answer: Through the delivery of the UK Biological Security Strategy, the Government is committed ensuring the UK is resilient to a spectrum of biological threats, as well as being a world leader in innovation. As part of this Strategy, the Government is undertaki...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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