The Home Office holds one of the largest and most comprehensive data sets across Government. Ensuring this data is safe, secure, and is able to be fully utilised to the maximum benefit to the taxpayer is our primary concern. The Home Office agreement with AWS is based on predicted usage and is part of the Crown Commercial contract, called the One Gov Value Agreement 2 (OGVA2) which is a framework allowing all Government departments to combine to leverage an unprecedented discount on AWS services which would not be possible if each department held separate contracts.

AWS provide the below statement which reinforces our requirement under a shared responsibility model to secure our data in such a way that we retain control of any disclosure:

“Protecting the privacy of our customers is something that we take seriously at AWS. We recommend that customers encrypt their data as part of their overall security model when adopting cloud, and there are AWS services available to help you encrypt your data in transit and at rest (such as AWS Key Management Service and AWS CloudHSM). To be clear, the US Cloud Act / US Patriot Act do not give US Law Enforcement unfettered access to data, and only apply to evidence sought in connection with a crime over which the US has jurisdiction. We have a history of challenging government requests for customer information that we believe are inappropriate and, where we need to act to protect customers, we do; we will notify customers before disclosing any data and please be assured that content that has been encrypted is rendered useless without the applicable decryption keys.”

The supplier shall be required to comply with data protection legislation, together with specific confidentiality, data protection and data security obligations to protect Home Office data when required, including physical and logical security restrictions applicable to the supplier’s personnel from accessing and processing the Home Office’s data, in accordance with the AWS Security Standards.

This may include vetting to recognised standards when the specific work requires such clearance. The Home Office use “keys” which ensure its data is fully encrypted at rest and in-transit, such that AWS have no access.

The supplier has no access to any of the data hosted in the AWS cloud. Certain Policing services are hosted in this environment which are assured and approved for this use. The extent of the processing of personal data covered in the contract is the provision of storage.

The nature of the data stored is entirely under the control of the Home Office and, due to the security controls in place, AWS has no knowledge of what is stored, nor is it provided with instructions on the nature of the processing. By design, the contract does not contain details that would that are not necessary to disclose to AWS for it to be bound by a contract that provides the necessary protections to personal data. The Information Commissioner’s Office is aware of this approach. AWS has no access to any personal data under the controllership of policing or the Home Office.

The Government is committed to having the Online Safety regulatory regime operational as soon as possible. During passage of the Act, we set an 18-month deadline for Ofcom to finalise certain guidance and codes of practice, including those relating to child safety duties and duties on regulated provider pornographic content.

Ofcom published its draft guidance for Part 5 of the Act (provider pornographic content) on 5 December 2023. The draft codes for children’s safety duties will follow in spring next year. Collectively, these documents will set out the steps firms should take regarding age verification and age estimation measures to prevent children’s access to online pornography. Once Ofcom has issued its final codes of practice and guidance, we will commence the corresponding duties.

We have been clear that we expect companies to take steps now to improve safety, and not wait for codes of practice or guidance to come into force before acting.

On 1 December, the government announced that Baroness Gabby Bertin has been appointed as the independent lead reviewer for the review of pornography regulation, legislation and enforcement. Details on her announcement and the review’s Terms of Reference can be found on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/illegal-pornography-abuse-and-exploitation-to-be-investigated-by-new-reviewer

Ofcom, as the independent regulator of the Online Safety Act 2023 will decide on the stakeholder engagement it will carry out. It has said that it will engage with a range of stakeholders as it develops its guidance and codes of practice for the regulatory regime.

The National Security Unit for Procurement, based in the Cabinet Office, will investigate suppliers who may pose a risk to national security and assess whether companies should be barred from public procurements. The Unit was announced as part of stepped up measures to protect national security in government contracts and will be operational in time for commencement of the Procurement Act in autumn 2024, when debarment and exclusion powers come into effect.

The Cabinet Office will also lead on the new National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS). Before laying the NPPS in Parliament a Minister of the Crown must carry out such consultation as the Minister considers appropriate and make any necessary changes as a result of it. Further details will be announced in the coming months.

The National Security Unit for Procurement, based in the Cabinet Office, will investigate suppliers who may pose a risk to national security and assess whether companies should be barred from public procurements. The Unit was announced as part of stepped up measures to protect national security in government contracts and will be operational in time for commencement of the Procurement Act in autumn 2024, when debarment and exclusion powers come into effect.

The Cabinet Office will also lead on the new National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS). Before laying the NPPS in Parliament a Minister of the Crown must carry out such consultation as the Minister considers appropriate and make any necessary changes as a result of it. Further details will be announced in the coming months.

The Government has strengthened Ofcom’s consumer protection rules to ensure consumers have the right level of information to make informed decisions.

As part of this, in February 2020, Ofcom brought in rules requiring communication providers to send a notification to customers nearing the end of their contract, encouraging them to get a new contract. These rules also require providers to send an annual notification for their consumers who are-out-contract, setting out the provider’s best available deals to the consumer.

Within the end-of-contract notification, providers must inform customers of the precise date their contract expires; notice periods should they wish to leave; the best offer available for renewal as well as the price they will pay if they take no action. Providers are not required to advise consumers if competitor services are present in their local area.

Ofcom are responsible for monitoring provider compliance with end-of-contract notification regulations, and recently took action against a provider who failed to issue information to their customers. Using the information contained within their end-of-contract notification, customers can find out what providers operate in their area using Ofcom’s broadband checker. Customers are also able to use one of the Ofcom accredited price comparison sites to see what offers they can access and how they compare to the best deal offered by their current provider.

I do not think “perverse” is justified. GDPR Article 22 addresses automated individual decision-making, but, as I am sure the noble Lord knows, the DPDI Bill recasts Article 22 as the right to specific safeguards rather than a general prohibition on automated decision-making, so that subjects have to be informed about it and can seek a human review of decisions. It also defines meaningful human involvement.

BT has a range of resilient solutions, including a battery back-up unit and hybrid phone. These solutions are compliant with, and in some cases exceed, Ofcom’s requirement to provide a back-up facility for emergency calls for a minimum of 1 hour during a power outage. It is worth noting that other providers may offer different solutions.

The BT hybrid phone with a mobile SIM card inside is not a solution that will be offered to customers that have no mobile signal where they live. Instead, they will be offered a battery back-up unit which will enable them to make a phone call in the event of a power cut. These solutions are available free-of-charge to vulnerable customers - those who use a telecare device, only use landlines and or are over the age of 75, without mobile signal or broadband or have disclosed other additional needs. These will be available for all to purchase if they wish.

Many Communication Providers, including BT, engage regularly with other broadband providers, Ofcom and power companies about the resilience of their networks and have robust contingency plans in place to protect their customers in the event of planned power outages.

Landline only customers will not be required to take a paid broadband service from providers if they do not wish to. Instead, they will be provided with a dedicated internet connection and router specifically for their landline service at no extra cost.

With regard to telecare systems, lifeline alarm systems or remote ringers, I cannot state definitively which products would function over Digital Voice or which would need modification or replacement, given the range of devices and providers across these sectors. However, Digital Voice telecare devices do exist for all use cases. Furthermore, the switch to Digital Voice has already taken place in other countries; in these cases, all telecare users have been provided Digital Voice compatible devices. DSIT has been working with the Department for Health and Social Care and the telecare industry to raise awareness of the migration and to help identify alternatives, while BT and other providers have set up test labs for manufacturers to test their equipment.

BT has engaged with a broad range of external stakeholders as part of its Digital Voice migration programme. The Digital Voice Advisory Group (DVAG) has advised BT on how best to support and engage with customers who will require additional support to migrate to Digital Voice. Members of the DVAG include representative groups and charities such as Age UK, the Department of Health and Social Care, Independent Age, Rural Services Network, and Which?. BT has also invited other organisations to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis. Other Communication Providers operate similar programmes to raise awareness.

BT has engaged with local authorities in a number of areas related to Digital Voice, although no local authorities are formal members of DVAG. BT is working with local authorities via industry working groups to discuss issues such as telecare and frequently engages with the Local Government Association about Digital Voice.

BT has a range of resilient solutions, including a battery back-up unit and hybrid phone. These solutions are compliant with, and in some cases exceed, Ofcom’s requirement to provide a back-up facility for emergency calls for a minimum of 1 hour during a power outage. It is worth noting that other providers may offer different solutions.

The BT hybrid phone with a mobile SIM card inside is not a solution that will be offered to customers that have no mobile signal where they live. Instead, they will be offered a battery back-up unit which will enable them to make a phone call in the event of a power cut. These solutions are available free-of-charge to vulnerable customers - those who use a telecare device, only use landlines and or are over the age of 75, without mobile signal or broadband or have disclosed other additional needs. These will be available for all to purchase if they wish.

Many Communication Providers, including BT, engage regularly with other broadband providers, Ofcom and power companies about the resilience of their networks and have robust contingency plans in place to protect their customers in the event of planned power outages.

Landline only customers will not be required to take a paid broadband service from providers if they do not wish to. Instead, they will be provided with a dedicated internet connection and router specifically for their landline service at no extra cost.

With regard to telecare systems, lifeline alarm systems or remote ringers, I cannot state definitively which products would function over Digital Voice or which would need modification or replacement, given the range of devices and providers across these sectors. However, Digital Voice telecare devices do exist for all use cases. Furthermore, the switch to Digital Voice has already taken place in other countries; in these cases, all telecare users have been provided Digital Voice compatible devices. DSIT has been working with the Department for Health and Social Care and the telecare industry to raise awareness of the migration and to help identify alternatives, while BT and other providers have set up test labs for manufacturers to test their equipment.

BT has engaged with a broad range of external stakeholders as part of its Digital Voice migration programme. The Digital Voice Advisory Group (DVAG) has advised BT on how best to support and engage with customers who will require additional support to migrate to Digital Voice. Members of the DVAG include representative groups and charities such as Age UK, the Department of Health and Social Care, Independent Age, Rural Services Network, and Which?. BT has also invited other organisations to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis. Other Communication Providers operate similar programmes to raise awareness.

BT has engaged with local authorities in a number of areas related to Digital Voice, although no local authorities are formal members of DVAG. BT is working with local authorities via industry working groups to discuss issues such as telecare and frequently engages with the Local Government Association about Digital Voice.

BT has a range of resilient solutions, including a battery back-up unit and hybrid phone. These solutions are compliant with, and in some cases exceed, Ofcom’s requirement to provide a back-up facility for emergency calls for a minimum of 1 hour during a power outage. It is worth noting that other providers may offer different solutions.

The BT hybrid phone with a mobile SIM card inside is not a solution that will be offered to customers that have no mobile signal where they live. Instead, they will be offered a battery back-up unit which will enable them to make a phone call in the event of a power cut. These solutions are available free-of-charge to vulnerable customers - those who use a telecare device, only use landlines and or are over the age of 75, without mobile signal or broadband or have disclosed other additional needs. These will be available for all to purchase if they wish.

Many Communication Providers, including BT, engage regularly with other broadband providers, Ofcom and power companies about the resilience of their networks and have robust contingency plans in place to protect their customers in the event of planned power outages.

Landline only customers will not be required to take a paid broadband service from providers if they do not wish to. Instead, they will be provided with a dedicated internet connection and router specifically for their landline service at no extra cost.

With regard to telecare systems, lifeline alarm systems or remote ringers, I cannot state definitively which products would function over Digital Voice or which would need modification or replacement, given the range of devices and providers across these sectors. However, Digital Voice telecare devices do exist for all use cases. Furthermore, the switch to Digital Voice has already taken place in other countries; in these cases, all telecare users have been provided Digital Voice compatible devices. DSIT has been working with the Department for Health and Social Care and the telecare industry to raise awareness of the migration and to help identify alternatives, while BT and other providers have set up test labs for manufacturers to test their equipment.

BT has engaged with a broad range of external stakeholders as part of its Digital Voice migration programme. The Digital Voice Advisory Group (DVAG) has advised BT on how best to support and engage with customers who will require additional support to migrate to Digital Voice. Members of the DVAG include representative groups and charities such as Age UK, the Department of Health and Social Care, Independent Age, Rural Services Network, and Which?. BT has also invited other organisations to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis. Other Communication Providers operate similar programmes to raise awareness.

BT has engaged with local authorities in a number of areas related to Digital Voice, although no local authorities are formal members of DVAG. BT is working with local authorities via industry working groups to discuss issues such as telecare and frequently engages with the Local Government Association about Digital Voice.

BT has a range of resilient solutions, including a battery back-up unit and hybrid phone. These solutions are compliant with, and in some cases exceed, Ofcom’s requirement to provide a back-up facility for emergency calls for a minimum of 1 hour during a power outage. It is worth noting that other providers may offer different solutions.

The BT hybrid phone with a mobile SIM card inside is not a solution that will be offered to customers that have no mobile signal where they live. Instead, they will be offered a battery back-up unit which will enable them to make a phone call in the event of a power cut. These solutions are available free-of-charge to vulnerable customers - those who use a telecare device, only use landlines and or are over the age of 75, without mobile signal or broadband or have disclosed other additional needs. These will be available for all to purchase if they wish.

Many Communication Providers, including BT, engage regularly with other broadband providers, Ofcom and power companies about the resilience of their networks and have robust contingency plans in place to protect their customers in the event of planned power outages.

Landline only customers will not be required to take a paid broadband service from providers if they do not wish to. Instead, they will be provided with a dedicated internet connection and router specifically for their landline service at no extra cost.

With regard to telecare systems, lifeline alarm systems or remote ringers, I cannot state definitively which products would function over Digital Voice or which would need modification or replacement, given the range of devices and providers across these sectors. However, Digital Voice telecare devices do exist for all use cases. Furthermore, the switch to Digital Voice has already taken place in other countries; in these cases, all telecare users have been provided Digital Voice compatible devices. DSIT has been working with the Department for Health and Social Care and the telecare industry to raise awareness of the migration and to help identify alternatives, while BT and other providers have set up test labs for manufacturers to test their equipment.

BT has engaged with a broad range of external stakeholders as part of its Digital Voice migration programme. The Digital Voice Advisory Group (DVAG) has advised BT on how best to support and engage with customers who will require additional support to migrate to Digital Voice. Members of the DVAG include representative groups and charities such as Age UK, the Department of Health and Social Care, Independent Age, Rural Services Network, and Which?. BT has also invited other organisations to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis. Other Communication Providers operate similar programmes to raise awareness.

BT has engaged with local authorities in a number of areas related to Digital Voice, although no local authorities are formal members of DVAG. BT is working with local authorities via industry working groups to discuss issues such as telecare and frequently engages with the Local Government Association about Digital Voice.

BT has a range of resilient solutions, including a battery back-up unit and hybrid phone. These solutions are compliant with, and in some cases exceed, Ofcom’s requirement to provide a back-up facility for emergency calls for a minimum of 1 hour during a power outage. It is worth noting that other providers may offer different solutions.

The BT hybrid phone with a mobile SIM card inside is not a solution that will be offered to customers that have no mobile signal where they live. Instead, they will be offered a battery back-up unit which will enable them to make a phone call in the event of a power cut. These solutions are available free-of-charge to vulnerable customers - those who use a telecare device, only use landlines and or are over the age of 75, without mobile signal or broadband or have disclosed other additional needs. These will be available for all to purchase if they wish.

Many Communication Providers, including BT, engage regularly with other broadband providers, Ofcom and power companies about the resilience of their networks and have robust contingency plans in place to protect their customers in the event of planned power outages.

Landline only customers will not be required to take a paid broadband service from providers if they do not wish to. Instead, they will be provided with a dedicated internet connection and router specifically for their landline service at no extra cost.

With regard to telecare systems, lifeline alarm systems or remote ringers, I cannot state definitively which products would function over Digital Voice or which would need modification or replacement, given the range of devices and providers across these sectors. However, Digital Voice telecare devices do exist for all use cases. Furthermore, the switch to Digital Voice has already taken place in other countries; in these cases, all telecare users have been provided Digital Voice compatible devices. DSIT has been working with the Department for Health and Social Care and the telecare industry to raise awareness of the migration and to help identify alternatives, while BT and other providers have set up test labs for manufacturers to test their equipment.

BT has engaged with a broad range of external stakeholders as part of its Digital Voice migration programme. The Digital Voice Advisory Group (DVAG) has advised BT on how best to support and engage with customers who will require additional support to migrate to Digital Voice. Members of the DVAG include representative groups and charities such as Age UK, the Department of Health and Social Care, Independent Age, Rural Services Network, and Which?. BT has also invited other organisations to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis. Other Communication Providers operate similar programmes to raise awareness.

BT has engaged with local authorities in a number of areas related to Digital Voice, although no local authorities are formal members of DVAG. BT is working with local authorities via industry working groups to discuss issues such as telecare and frequently engages with the Local Government Association about Digital Voice.

BT has a range of resilient solutions, including a battery back-up unit and hybrid phone. These solutions are compliant with, and in some cases exceed, Ofcom’s requirement to provide a back-up facility for emergency calls for a minimum of 1 hour during a power outage. It is worth noting that other providers may offer different solutions.

The BT hybrid phone with a mobile SIM card inside is not a solution that will be offered to customers that have no mobile signal where they live. Instead, they will be offered a battery back-up unit which will enable them to make a phone call in the event of a power cut. These solutions are available free-of-charge to vulnerable customers - those who use a telecare device, only use landlines and or are over the age of 75, without mobile signal or broadband or have disclosed other additional needs. These will be available for all to purchase if they wish.

Many Communication Providers, including BT, engage regularly with other broadband providers, Ofcom and power companies about the resilience of their networks and have robust contingency plans in place to protect their customers in the event of planned power outages.

Landline only customers will not be required to take a paid broadband service from providers if they do not wish to. Instead, they will be provided with a dedicated internet connection and router specifically for their landline service at no extra cost.

With regard to telecare systems, lifeline alarm systems or remote ringers, I cannot state definitively which products would function over Digital Voice or which would need modification or replacement, given the range of devices and providers across these sectors. However, Digital Voice telecare devices do exist for all use cases. Furthermore, the switch to Digital Voice has already taken place in other countries; in these cases, all telecare users have been provided Digital Voice compatible devices. DSIT has been working with the Department for Health and Social Care and the telecare industry to raise awareness of the migration and to help identify alternatives, while BT and other providers have set up test labs for manufacturers to test their equipment.

BT has engaged with a broad range of external stakeholders as part of its Digital Voice migration programme. The Digital Voice Advisory Group (DVAG) has advised BT on how best to support and engage with customers who will require additional support to migrate to Digital Voice. Members of the DVAG include representative groups and charities such as Age UK, the Department of Health and Social Care, Independent Age, Rural Services Network, and Which?. BT has also invited other organisations to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis. Other Communication Providers operate similar programmes to raise awareness.

BT has engaged with local authorities in a number of areas related to Digital Voice, although no local authorities are formal members of DVAG. BT is working with local authorities via industry working groups to discuss issues such as telecare and frequently engages with the Local Government Association about Digital Voice.

I am pleased to reassure the noble Lord that I am not embarrassed in the slightest. Perhaps I can come back with a quotation from Yann LeCun, one of the three godfathers of AI, who said in an interview the other week that regulating AI now would be like regulating commercial air travel in 1925. We can more or less theoretically grasp what it might do, but we simply do not have the grounding to regulate properly because we lack the evidence. Our path to the safety of AI is to search for the evidence and, based on the evidence, to regulate accordingly.

As I said just a moment ago, we are world leaders in this. My honourable friend Minister George Freeman announced the first ever UK plan for space sustainability—an ambitious package showing UK leadership and commitment on this issue. The Minister also chairs the space sustainability round table, bringing together key members from industry, finance, insurance and academia to focus on the key issues of space sustainability. I assure the noble Lord that Great Britain is leading this way on this with our European and international partners.

I very much share the noble Lord’s analysis of the need for this group to come rapidly into existence. It is, of course, the role of Ofcom to create it. I will undertake to liaise with it to make sure that that is speeded up.