Every parliamentary written question tabled by Paul Davies this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–11 of 11 · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help UK robotics and autonomous systems manufacturers to scale up their operations.
Government measures to support British technology companies, including robotics firms, to scale up in the UK comprises crowding-in private sector investment via the British Business Bank and National Wealth Fund, both with expanded capitalisations and a m...
Innovation and Technology, with reference to the strategy Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, whether she plans to publish the UK alternative method priorities by January 2026.
The Government’s strategy to support replacing animals in science commits to publish biennially a list of alternative-methods research and development priorities, coalescing UK scientists around these areas and incentivising partnerships between research organisations, CROs and industry. These will be published during 2026 following development with stakeholders as part of the implementation of the strategy.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to the strategy Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, whether she plans to consult civil society organisations with expertise in this area.
The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”. The Government consulted industry, academia and civil society during the development of the recent Replacing Animals in Science strategy and will continue to do so during strategy implementation. This includes collaboration with civil society organisations with expertise in this area, including animal welfare organisations and learned societies, and other interested groups.
Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure that social media platforms enforce their own (a) hate speech and (b) child protection policies.
Under the Online Safety Act, the largest services will need to put in place processes to enforce any Terms of Service they set for legal content for adults, including legal hate speech. Platforms likely to be accessed by children must also protect children from content that is harmful to them, including hateful content.Services must have clear and accessible Terms of Service about how they fulfil their illegal content and child safety duties and apply them consistently.Ofcom has robust enforcement powers to use against services that fail to fulfil duties. This includes fines of up to 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue.
Innovation and Technology, if he will take (a) regulatory and (b) legislative steps to hold platforms accountable for monetising content which (i) does not meet internal policies on hate speech, (ii) promotes misogyny and (iii) promotes gender-based hate.
The Online Safety Act gives online platforms new duties to tackle illegal user-generated content on their services. This includes duties for illegal content that stirs up hatred. Under these duties, providers need to remove this content. It cannot then be monetised. Categorised services also need to have systems and processes in place to enforce their terms of service about content that is prohibited on their service, including hate speech and misogyny. The regulation is overseen by Ofcom and it has strong powers to enforce compliance.
Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps to ensure the equitable geographic distribution of health research funding.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funds health research across the UK, primarily through their Medical Research Council (MRC). The UKRI place toolkit underpins MRC’s vision to encourage and support excellent and impactful research, wherever it is found in the UK. MRC recognises the importance of place for strengthening capacity across the UK, for the long-term benefit of UK science. MRC draws on and fosters talent, research communities and capacity from across the UK to address major health challenges and the recently published MRC Place Framework sets out MRC’s principles for place and how it is used to guide decision making.
Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps to ensure that digital inclusion initiatives are accessible to (a) all, (b) the elderly and (c) people in remote areas.
Yes, by definition, that is the intention behind all digital inclusion, which is a priority for this Government, because we want everyone to have the access, skills, support and confidence to participate in a modern digital society, whatever their circumstances. We also understand that digital exclusion disproportionately impacts certain demographics, including older people.That is why, as we develop our approach to tackling this issue, we are working closely with key partners in the third sector, industry and local authorities to base interventions on and target them to individual needs. I hope to say more on this in the near future.
Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on the adequacy of its reporting on the quality of phone signals for consumers.
Far too often the data published by Ofcom does not match consumers’ experience of using mobile networks. I wrote to Ofcom in August, asking them to set out steps to improve their mobile coverage reporting. I have also met with the regulator to discuss the...
Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help improve broadband connections in Colne Valley constituency.
According to the independent website ThinkBroadband.com, almost 98% of premises in the Colne Valley constituency have access to superfast broadband speeds (>=30 Mbps) and over 85% can access a gigabit-capable (>1000 Mbps) connection.To extend gigabi...
Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that people in Colne Valley constituency can access a 5G signal by 2030.
Ofcom reports that basic (non-standalone) 5G is already available outside 83% of premises across the Colne Valley constituency from at least one mobile operator.But in order to realise the full economic and social benefits of 5G, our ambition is for all p...
Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of levels of (a) broadband and (b) mobile coverage in rural areas on mental health.
Everyone needs the right access, skills, support and confidence to participate in a modern digital society. Government recognises that digital inclusion can have a positive impact on social wellbeing, increasing social connectivity and enabling access to ...