Policy Threads

29 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Science, Innovation and Technology linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will provide the most up to date figures for the number of (i) individuals who have taken courses and (ii) courses that hav

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will provide the most up to date figures for the number of (i) individuals who have taken courses and (ii) courses that have been delivered, through the …

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29 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Science, Innovation and Technology linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what further action the Government plans to take to help reduce the negative impacts of social media on the mental health of young

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what further action the Government plans to take to help reduce the negative impacts of social media on the mental health of young people and wider society.

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28 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Science, Innovation and Technology linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of misinformation and disinformation online on local communities.

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27 Apr 2026 | Written question Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to issue guidance to local authorities on maintaining non-digital access routes for services such as Home

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to issue guidance to local authorities on maintaining non-digital access routes for services such as Home Waste Recycling Centres, for residents who are digitall

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27 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Science, Innovation and Technology linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will publish the names and institutional affiliations of the members of the academic panel appointed to assess (a) the publ

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will publish the names and institutional affiliations of the members of the academic panel appointed to assess (a) the public responses to the 'Growing up in the …

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27 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Science, Innovation and Technology linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the selection process was for the appointment of experts to the academic panel for the digital wellbeing consultation; and wh

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the selection process was for the appointment of experts to the academic panel for the digital wellbeing consultation; and what criteria were used to ensure a balance of …

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27 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Science, Innovation and Technology linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the selection process was for the appointment of experts to the academic panel for the digital wellbeing consultation; and wh

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the selection process was for the appointment of experts to the academic panel for the digital wellbeing consultation; and what criteria were used to ensure a balance of …

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24 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Science, Innovation and Technology linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department has taken to help stop UK users accessing a suicide forum responsible for over 135 deaths in this countr

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department has taken to help stop UK users accessing a suicide forum responsible for over 135 deaths in this country following her meeting action with a …

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19 Feb 2025 | Committee report linked

Older age is not in itself a cause of digital exclusion but strongly correlates with some of the key measures, including lack of broadband at home and non-ownership of a smartphone. There is also a large number of “hidden” digitally excluded older people: those who appear to be online, having broadband at home and owning a smartphone, but who lack the requisite confidence and skills to complete digital tasks without support. There has been a huge proliferation of digital technology and adopti...

Older age is not in itself a cause of digital exclusion but strongly correlates with some of the key measures, including lack of broadband at home and non-ownership of a smartphone. There is also a large number of “hidden” digitally …

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19 Feb 2025 | Committee report linked

The Government must bring forward a refreshed Digital Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy should have a detailed focus on the needs of digitally excluded older people, including a plan for funding locally delivered digital skills provision and promoting best practice in the public and private sectors in maintaining offline alternatives to digital for as long as needs remain, and a focus on broadband connectivity in rural and coastal areas. (Recommendation, Paragraph 76) Equality law and enforcea...

The Government must bring forward a refreshed Digital Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy should have a detailed focus on the needs of digitally excluded older people, including a plan for funding locally delivered digital skills provision and promoting best practice in …

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7 Sep 2023 | Committee report Department of Health and Social Care linked

Correspondence from Paul Norris, Chief Executive, Building Digital UK, re publication of Building Digital UK (BDUK) Corporate Plan 2023 – 2026, dated 1 August 2023

Direction: unknown

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30 Jun 2023 | Committee report linked

The NHS is a universal service, and people should not be unable to access it because of wider challenges around access to technology, connectivity and digital skills. The Department should work with NHS England and other Departments to understand what models would work best for supporting patients to use and access technology in different settings both in and outside the health service (for example, in the community).

The NHS is a universal service, and people should not be unable to access it because of wider challenges around access to technology, connectivity and digital skills. The Department should work with NHS England and other Departments to understand what …

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24 Mar 2023 | Committee report linked

In its response to this Report, the Government should detail how the newly-created Department for Science, Innovation and Technology intends to drive greater levels of diversity and inclusion across the UK’s STEM sectors. (Paragraph 153) 54 Diversity and inclusion in STEM

In its response to this Report, the Government should detail how the newly-created Department for Science, Innovation and Technology intends to drive greater levels of diversity and inclusion across the UK’s STEM sectors. (Paragraph 153) 54 Diversity and inclusion in …

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10 Jun 2021 | Committee report linked

We welcome the greater use of digital technology in the planning system. But we recognise the need to ensure those lacking access can know about and participate in the planning process. The Minister suggested that the existing statutory notices on local newspapers and on lampposts would become a matter of discretion for local authorities. We do not agree with this approach. It risks creating a postcode lottery as to whether such notices continue. This would disadvantage those residing in fina...

We welcome the greater use of digital technology in the planning system. But we recognise the need to ensure those lacking access can know about and participate in the planning process. The Minister suggested that the existing statutory notices on …

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26 May 2021 | Committee report linked

The Department has no vision for building on the investment it has made in IT equipment for vulnerable and disadvantaged children. In the early stages of the pandemic, the Department initially considered trying to provide 602,000 laptops and tablets, and 100,000 4G routers, to priority groups of children. It scaled back these plans, however, and by the end of the summer term 2020 had delivered almost 215,000 laptops or tablets and 50,000 routers for children with a social worker and care leav...

The Department has no vision for building on the investment it has made in IT equipment for vulnerable and disadvantaged children. In the early stages of the pandemic, the Department initially considered trying to provide 602,000 laptops and tablets, and …

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23 Jul 2020 | Committee report linked

Throughout the Covid-19 crisis, vulnerable people across the country have suffered as a result of being excluded from digital services and communication. Yet initiatives to tackle the issue, such as the DevicesDotNow campaign, have been limited by a lack of both direct and charitable funding. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s commitment to tackling digital exclusion and co-ordinating work on it across Government urgently needs to be supported by adequate resource from HM ...

Throughout the Covid-19 crisis, vulnerable people across the country have suffered as a result of being excluded from digital services and communication. Yet initiatives to tackle the issue, such as the DevicesDotNow campaign, have been limited by a lack of …

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23 Jul 2020 | Committee report linked

We commend the work done by cultural and fitness organisations, both before and during the Covid-19 crisis, to move access to content and facilities online. In the immediate future, DCMS should work with HM Treasury to develop a data voucher scheme, to give those with limited access to the internet due to financial constraints the ability to access online cultural and physical activity content.

We commend the work done by cultural and fitness organisations, both before and during the Covid-19 crisis, to move access to content and facilities online. In the immediate future, DCMS should work with HM Treasury to develop a data voucher …

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