Andrew Griffith MP: written questions 2024
181 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Special AdvisersDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5705More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many special advisers have been appointed by his Department since 4 July 2024.
Answer: Three special advisers have been appointed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology since 4 July 2024.
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5704More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to his Department's publication entitled DSIT annual report and accounts 2023 to 2024, published on 12 September 2024, whether his Department plans to use the £599 millio
Answer: As set out in guidance underspends cannot be automatically carried forward into the following financial year.
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air SystemsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5703More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to support beyond visual line of sight drone trials.
Answer: The Government is committed to achieving routine beyond visual line of sight drone operations in the UK and has provided funding to support the Civil Aviation Authority’s beyond visual line of sight drone trials, whilst also developing the right regulator...
Answered 8 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordNew Businesses: InvestmentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5702More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he is taking steps to support investment in (a) start-ups and (b) university spin-outs.
Answer: The Government is taking steps to increase the availability of capital in the UK and help businesses access finance, including for start-ups and spinouts. For example, our creation of a National Wealth Fund will increase access to domestic capital for bus...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSmall Modular ReactorsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5701More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, Security and Net Zero, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on easing planning rules for SMR reactors.
Answer: A new nuclear National Policy Statement (EN-7) is being developed which will provide updated planning guidance and set out any specific assessment criteria for the siting of new nuclear power stations, including Small Modular Reactors (SMR).
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordData Centres: Planning PermissionDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5700More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on easing planning rules for data centres.
Answer: The Secretary of State has regular formal and informal conversations with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on a range of issues. I welcome the proposed changes to planning policy that would facilitate growth in UK data ...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordArtificial IntelligenceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5699More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions on the availability of consumer Artificial Intelligence tools with representatives of (a) Apple, (b) Google and (c) Microsoft.
Answer: Across DSIT and the wider Government, we continue to regularly engage with key stakeholders, including Apple, Google, and Microsoft. We recognise the availability of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools is fundamental to encouraging adoption and to kickstar...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: RegulationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5698More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with his EU counterparts on EU Regulation 2024/1689 since 25 July 2024.
Answer: Following the King's Speech announcement to establish legislation to place requirements on those working to develop the most powerful AI models, we continue to develop our proposed approach. This includes engaging with key partners, such as the EU, who ar...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: RegulationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5697More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the potential introduction of expanded AI regulation since 25 July 2024.
Answer: Following the King's Speech announcement to establish legislation to place requirements on those working to develop the most powerful AI models, we continue to develop our proposed approach. This includes engaging with key partners, such as the US, who ar...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology: EqualityDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5696More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many diversity, equality and inclusion officers his Department employed in August 2024.
Answer: In August 2024, DSIT employed two members of staff whose entire role was dedicated to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and two members of staff for whom it constituted 50% of their role. This is a reduction from the previous month, where the team was t...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPatents: RegistrationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5695More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what information the Intellectual Property Office holds on the number of patents registered in (a) July and (b) August 2024.
Answer: There were 746 patents granted (registered) by the Intellectual Property Office in July 2024, and 625 patents granted in August 2024. These figures are part of IPO’s Official Statistics and are published each month. They can be accessed on our website.
Answered 7 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordInnovate UK: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4950More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when Innovate UK will commence its next funding round.
Answer: Innovate UK’s funding competitions are published on the Innovation Funding Service at https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/search. This includes current active competitions and those due to launch shortly.
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordArtificial IntelligenceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4948More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps to continue the work of the AI Opportunity Forum.
Answer: The AI Opportunity Forum was established in January 2024 to run until the summer. Driving AI adoption across the private and the public sector is a government priority. In July 2024, the AI entrepreneur, Matt Clifford, was appointed to develop the AI Oppo...
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordSatellites: BroadbandDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4943More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help provide supplemental broadband coverage via satellite in rural areas.
Answer: The vast majority of premises are expected to be covered by commercial activity or Project Gigabit. However, we do accept there will be a small number of premises not connected and we are considering alternative technologies to improve connectivity for th...
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordSatellites: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4942More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support the manufacture of low earth orbit satellite manufacturing in the UK.
Answer: The UK has helped pioneer the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite sector through support to highly innovative companies such as SSTL, Clyde Space and Open Cosmos, all of which have been supported by different Government mechanisms.Government continues to supp...
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordSatellitesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4941More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to promote direct to device mobile connectivity from satellites.
Answer: Although this is a nascent field, government recognises the emerging potential of direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity, in particular in hard to reach or remote areas. Ofcom has recently published a call for input on the potential supply of and demand for ...
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordCivil Service Commission: Conflict of InterestsCabinet OfficeTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4898More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what policies the Civil Service Commission has in place to avoid conflicts of interest when investigating its sponsoring department.
Answer: The Civil Service Commission (CSC) is an executive non-departmental public body established in statute by the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (2010) to provide assurance that civil servants are selected on merit on the basis of fair and open comp...
Answered 12 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology: RecruitmentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4846More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 2 August 2024 to Question 1990 on Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Public Appointments, for what reason the Answer was amended using the edit
Answer: The answer was amended to correct an administrative error. The amendment corrected the exception number cited in the response - this was previously listed as exception 4, when it should have been listed as exception 1.
Answered 12 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordCivil Service Commission: SecondmentCabinet OfficeTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4842More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which team in the Cabinet Office discharges statutory or contractual duties owed to Cabinet Office employees by the Cabinet Office as their employer whilst they are on secondment to the Civil Service Commission.
Answer: Staff recruited by the Civil Service Commission are employed by the Cabinet Office and seconded to the Commission for the duration of the time in their role. The Civil Service Commission is independent; its staff operate under the direction of the First C...
Answered 12 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordPropriety and Constitution GroupCabinet OfficeTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4841More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the role of the Propriety and Constitution Group is in his Department’s relationship with the Civil Service Commission.
Answer: The Civil Service Commission (CSC) is an executive non-departmental public body established in statute by the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (2010). The Commission is independent.The Cabinet Office, through the Propriety and Constitution Group, ...
Answered 12 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordWinter Fuel Payment: Arundel and South DownsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4560More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people who will be affected by the decision to amend the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment in Arundel and South Downs constituency.
Answer: It is estimated that around 26,033 people in Arundel and South Downs constituency will be affected by the decision to amend the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment. This is based on Feb-24 Pension Credit statistics and 22-23 for Winter Fuel P...
Answered 12 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordKate OwenCabinet OfficeTabled 6 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4559More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the terms were for the secondment of Kate Owen as Interim Chief Executive of the Civil Service Commission; and when the secondment will end.
Answer: The published Civil Service Commission 2022/2023 Annual Report shows the current Interim Chief Executive began the role on 15 May 2023. An external recruitment process to appoint a permanent Chief Executive was launched in May 2024 and is expected to conc...
Answered 12 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordCivil Service: RecruitmentCabinet OfficeTabled 4 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4271More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions have taken place at (a) official and (b) ministerial level between the Propriety and Constitution Group and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) on the establishment of the CSC’s review of appoint
Answer: The Civil Service Commission is the independent regulator of Civil Service recruitment and carries out its functions independently of Government and in line with the provisions of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. On Friday 30 August the ...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology: RecruitmentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4055More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the approvals process for the appointment of the Director General Digital Centre Design included the Civil Service Commission being informed of donations made by Public Digital
Answer: The Director General, Digital Centre Design was appointed in line with Civil Service Recruitment Principles and the Civil Service Commission was provided with the relevant background information requested, including the Director General’s previous work ro...
Answered 10 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordWater Supply: West SussexDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4054More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the likelihood of future water supply shortages in West Sussex.
Answer: Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a supply of wholesome water under the Water Industry Act 1991 and associated water quality regulations. Companies must ensure continuation of their water distribution functions during an emergency and are r...
Answered 20 Sept 2024
Original Parliament record
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