Every parliamentary written question tabled by Mary Glindon this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–8 of 8 · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Innovation and Technology, when her Department intends to publish its response to the consultation entitled Information sharing for public service delivery: expanding the information sharing powers in Part 5 (chapter one) of the Digital Economy Act 2017 to support passported benefits and reduce fuel poverty, published on 29 July 2025.
Awaiting answer.
Innovation and Technology, whether digital ID will become an approved method of age assurance to comply with age checks required by the Online Safety Act 2023.
The Online Safety Act requires in-scope services to use highly effective age assurance to prevent children from accessing harmful content online. It is up to Ofcom as the regulator to determine whether or not an age assurance process is deemed ‘highly effective’ but it does not mandate specific technologies.Ofcom’s guidance sets out a non-exhaustive list of age assurance technologies that could constitute highly effective age assurance. This list includes digital identity services. Whilst the government expects digital identity to be increasingly popular, there will remain a number of routes through which an individual can assure their age.
Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that adults who do not possess photo ID are able to verify their age online.
In its guidance for services, Ofcom listed several kinds of age assurance in addition to photo-ID matching, including facial age estimation, open banking and digital identity services. These can be highly effective at determining whether or not a user is a child.The Online Safety Act is clear that age assurance should work effectively for all users regardless of their characteristics or whether they are members of a certain group.Ofcom are set to publish a report on the effectiveness of age assurance by July 2026, which will broaden our evidence base and inform any future policy options on this issue
Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of governance arrangements for broadband providers regulated by Ofcom, in the context of the open letter from the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors to Ofcom of 1 August 2025.
The Government keeps the financial health of the market under close review and Ofcom have powers to request financial information from providers. The Telecommunications Security Code of Practice provides guidance on how communications providers can meet statutory requirements to secure their networks and services. These include requirements on auditing, governance and board responsibilities. Ofcom monitor and enforce compliance with these requirements. Following detailed engagement with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Ofcom and communications providers, the Government have launched a public consultation on proposed updates to the Code, which is open until 22 October.
Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of including guidance on the role of internal audit in providing independent assurance on telecommunications security risks, in the context of the review of the Telecommunications Security Code of Practice.
The Government keeps the financial health of the market under close review and Ofcom have powers to request financial information from providers. The Telecommunications Security Code of Practice provides guidance on how communications providers can meet statutory requirements to secure their networks and services. These include requirements on auditing, governance and board responsibilities. Ofcom monitor and enforce compliance with these requirements. Following detailed engagement with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Ofcom and communications providers, the Government have launched a public consultation on proposed updates to the Code, which is open until 22 October.
Innovation and Technology, if she will support Ofcom in developing best practice guidance for telecoms companies on (a) board leadership, (b) governance and (c) the role of internal audit in managing cyber and data security risks.
The Government keeps the financial health of the market under close review and Ofcom have powers to request financial information from providers. The Telecommunications Security Code of Practice provides guidance on how communications providers can meet statutory requirements to secure their networks and services. These include requirements on auditing, governance and board responsibilities. Ofcom monitor and enforce compliance with these requirements. Following detailed engagement with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Ofcom and communications providers, the Government have launched a public consultation on proposed updates to the Code, which is open until 22 October.
Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of major broadband providers not having internal audit functions on (a) risk management and (b) cybersecurity governance .
The Government keeps the financial health of the market under close review and Ofcom have powers to request financial information from providers. The Telecommunications Security Code of Practice provides guidance on how communications providers can meet statutory requirements to secure their networks and services. These include requirements on auditing, governance and board responsibilities. Ofcom monitor and enforce compliance with these requirements. Following detailed engagement with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Ofcom and communications providers, the Government have launched a public consultation on proposed updates to the Code, which is open until 22 October.
Innovation and Technology, if he has made an assessment of the potential merits of rejoining the Galileo scheme.
The Government is implementing the October 2023 Government Policy Framework for Greater Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Resilience, which will provide greater resilience for the PNT services that the UK relies upon in the event of any disruption to Global Navigation Satellite Systems such as GPS and Galileo. The UK public and businesses still have access to the Galileo Open Service, though the UK no longer participates in Galileo, and the UK armed forces have access to the US GPS secure service. The Government will consider participation in EU programmes on a case by case basis where participation would meet the UK’s interests.