Ben Spencer MP: written questions
280 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Artificial Intelligence: DisinformationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23440More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Advanced Research and Invention Agency on support for research into (a) detecting, (b) preventing and (c) removing deepfake images created by genera
Answer: AI-generated content is captured by the Online Safety Act where it constitutes illegal content or content harmful to children on an in-scope service. We will also criminalise the creation of non-consensual sexual deepfakes through the Crime and Policing B...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPension CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 9 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22983More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Pension Credit applications her Department has received in each of the last 12 months; and how many such applications were processed within the 50 day target.
Answer: Pension Credit operational information is produced weekly. Please find data from 1 January 2024 up to the latest available data at end of week commencing 11 November 2024. This data is part of a longer time series published by the Department on 28 Novembe...
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordOphthalmology: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21676More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the total amount of Government investment into retinal detachment occlusion research was in 2023-24; and which public bodies provided that investment.
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care funds medical research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology was ...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordOphthalmology: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21675More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much Government funding into central retinal vein occlusion research there was in 2023-24; and which public bodies provided that funding.
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care funds medical research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology was ...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordBlepharitis: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21674More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much Government funding into blepharitis research there was in 2023-24; and which public bodies provided that funding.
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care funds medical research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology was ...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordKeratoconus: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21673More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much Government funding into keratoconus research there was in 2023-24; and which public bodies provided that funding.
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care funds medical research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology was ...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCataracts: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21672More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much Government funding into cataract research there was in 2023-24; and which public bodies provided that funding.
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care funds medical research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology was ...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordUveitis: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21671More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much Government funding into uveitis research there was in 2023-24; and which public bodies provided that funding.
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care funds medical research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology was ...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRetinoblastoma: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21041More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much Government investment into retinoblastoma research was in 2023-24; and which public bodies provided that investment.
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care funds medical research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology was ...
Answered 10 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRetinitis Pigmentosa: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21040More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much Government investment into retinitis pigmentosa research was in 2023-24; and which public bodies provided that investment.
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care funds medical research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology was ...
Answered 10 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDiabetic Retinopathy: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21039More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much Government investment into diabetic retinopathy research was in 2023-24; and which public bodies provided that investment.
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care funds medical research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology was ...
Answered 10 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMacular Degeneration: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21038More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much Government investment into dry macular degeneration research was in 2023-24; and which public bodies provided that investment.
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care funds medical research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology was ...
Answered 10 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMacular Degeneration: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21037More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much Government investment into wet macular degeneration was in 2023-24; and which public bodies provided that investment.
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care funds medical research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology was ...
Answered 10 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordGlaucoma: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21036More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much Government investment into closed-angle glaucoma research was in 2023-24; and which public bodies provided that investment.
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care funds medical research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology was ...
Answered 10 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordGlaucoma: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21035More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much Government investment into open-angle glaucoma research was in 2023-24; and which public bodies provided that investment.
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care funds medical research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology was ...
Answered 10 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordNanotechnology: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21034More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Regulatory Innovation Office on the UK’s research into nanotechnology since July 2024.
Answer: The Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) was formally established on 8th October 2024. Initially it is supporting the growth of four fast-growing areas of technology. These are: Engineering biology, Space, Artificial Intelligence and digital in healthcare;...
Answered 10 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordNanotechnology: InnovationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21033More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Government Office for Technology Transfer on their approach to support market innovation into nanotechnology since July 2024.
Answer: The Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT) helps accelerate government’s innovations towards the market, to impact growth and deliver new products and services for citizens. GOTT provides expertise, funding, and guidance to central government de...
Answered 10 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordTribunalsMinistry of JusticeTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20713More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to reduce waiting times for Tribunal cases to be heard for (a) Social Security and Child Support, (b) Immigration and Asylum and (c) SEN appeals.
Answer: We are working to reduce the outstanding caseload in the Social Entitlement Chamber, the Immigration and Asylum Chamber and the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal. Reducing outstanding caseloads is the key measure to brin...
Answered 6 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordM25: Runnymede and WeybridgeDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19043More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with National Highways on when each concrete section of the M25 within the Runnymede and Weybridge constituency will be treated with next generation concrete surfacing.
Answer: The precise dates for treatment of individual sections will be determined based on regular monitoring of the condition of the carriageway. National Highways plans to give priority to treatments within the Noise Important Areas (NIA) identified by Departme...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordM25: Runnymede and WeybridgeDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19042More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on when each concrete section of the M25 within Runnymede and Weybridge constituency is expected to reach the end of its serviceable life.
Answer: The precise dates for treatment of individual sections will be determined based on regular monitoring of the condition of the carriageway. National Highways plans to give priority to treatments within the Noise Important Areas (NIA) identified by Departme...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordM25: Runnymede and WeybridgeDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19041More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many noise important areas of the M25 there are within the Runnymede and Weybridge constituency; and what the location is of each.
Answer: The precise dates for treatment of individual sections will be determined based on regular monitoring of the condition of the carriageway. National Highways plans to give priority to treatments within the Noise Important Areas (NIA) identified by Departme...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18667More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of AI regulation for UK research into space weather and its consequences.
Answer: AI is a general-purpose technology, with a wide array of applications. The UK's existing expert regulators are best placed to regulate the vast majority of AI systems in the context in which they’re deployed.
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18666More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of AI on UK research into space weather and its consequences.
Answer: We have made no such direct assessment, but as a general-purpose technology, AI has a wide array of applications and the UK's existing expert regulators are best placed to regulate the vast majority of AI systems in the context in which they’re deployed.
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18665More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of UK research into space weather and its consequences on domestic cybersecurity.
Answer: The UK continues to prioritise activities to mitigate the impacts of space weather. Severe space weather is identified in our National Risk Register and our response is outlined in the Severe Space Weather Preparedness Strategy.
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18664More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Geospatial Commission on research into space weather and its consequences since July 2024.
Answer: None
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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