I am now in a position to answer the right hon. Member's Questions 1450 and 2085.

The Department initially believed it could provide some costs in scope of these requests; however, upon further analysis, I must advise that these aspects are not considered under a single or dedicated programme and are generally considered as components or elements of much larger programmes across Defence and in multiple domains.

This information is not held centrally, and I therefore confirm that the requested information could be provided only at disproportionate cost and would in any event be unlikely to be an accurate reflection of all spend incurred.

I am now in a position to answer the right hon. Member's Questions 1450 and 2085.

The Department initially believed it could provide some costs in scope of these requests; however, upon further analysis, I must advise that these aspects are not considered under a single or dedicated programme and are generally considered as components or elements of much larger programmes across Defence and in multiple domains.

This information is not held centrally, and I therefore confirm that the requested information could be provided only at disproportionate cost and would in any event be unlikely to be an accurate reflection of all spend incurred.

In February 2023, the Government published its first strategy for Medical Technology, outlining the priority to ensure patients have fast and safe access to the most innovative technology that deliver the best outcomes. We are implementing solutions to streamline the innovation adoption pathway: from providing clear signals to industry on the innovation we need, to reforming regulation, comparative assessment, and improved procurement. A Copy of the strategy is attached.

This will complement the investment in upgrading the analytical capability of the National Health Service, through the provision of the Federated Data Platform, which will allow trusts and integrated care boards to access software which allow them to draw together diverse operational data sets, to improve outcomes for patients. The federation aspect means that every trust and integrated care board will have access to their own version of the data platform, over which they will have complete control.

In addition, a single combined programme called ‘Data Capabilities’ is underway bringing together the several strategic strands of transformation. The programme is designed to achieve a strong data and technological architecture to enable the development of high quality and efficient data flows. Significantly it will also ensure that confidential patient data can be collected, processed, deployed, and disseminated securely. This will improve the quality, availability, and interoperability of data to support multiple use cases in health and social care.

The combined aims of the Data Capabilities programme are to improve the timeliness and quality of data collection, changing the way we collect data to reduce burden on the frontline; ensure the highest standards are applied to the safe handling of patient data; harmonise the data and technical architectures of the main data platforms used in NHS England so that data is being collected, curated and made available in the most secure and efficient way; expand the range, quality, and utility of data, including linked data assets; provide appropriate and timely access for users including providers, commissioners, policy makers, researchers, and patients to support the four use cases of data, namely Direct Care, population health and proactive care, planning oversight and service improvement, and research and innovation.

The role data professionals play in the health sector is vital and we fully recognise the need to ensure that this important part of the workforce receives the support it needs. The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan (LTWP) set out our ambition to ensure that the wider workforce has the skills it needs to deliver care in future.

NHS England also intends to publish a workforce plan that will encompass the information, digital, data and technology professions. This plan will supplement the actions in the LTWP and ensure that, collectively, we are taking the actions that will put the whole NHS workforce on a sustainable footing for the long term.

In the 2023 Defence Command Paper Refresh we committed to upskilling our people in digital, nuclear, space, cyber, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. We are already working with industry and academia to nurture a collaborative ecosystem and ensure we grow these skills nationally.

We are supporting skills development for now and the future across major programmes and supply chains that stretch right across the UK.

For example, in the air sector, the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is driving the development of entirely new industrial processes and blending digital twinning - open architecture, AI, and robotic engineering - to create a truly cutting-edge capability.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 September 2023 to Question 199358.

The Department engages regularly with stakeholders – including TV platforms – on all aspects of the Media Bill, including matters relating to prominence.

In particular, the Bill was published in draft on 29 March 2023 and the Department subsequently engaged with key stakeholders to ensure that it would deliver the desired outcomes for industry and audiences. The Bill also underwent pre-legislative scrutiny conducted by the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

Following this engagement, we are confident that the measures set out in the Bill, including in relation to regional prominence, are technologically feasible.

No assessment has been currently made on use of exoskeletons or wearable robotics as a technical aid, and NHS England is not currently exploring the use of exoskeletons or wearable robotics within their musculoskeletal work.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is developing medical technologies guidance on GaitSmart, which is looking at its use for people at risk for falling. Gaitsmart is a sensor-based digital technology that monitors limb movement, for gait and mobility issues. This guidance is due to be published this month.

The Ministry of Defence is investing £6.6 billion in Research and Development, working with UK industry and academia to ensure we are developing the technologies Defence needs.

The own-collaborate-access framework is primarily focussed on technologies, where it guides strategic decisions on building and using capability in priority areas of science and technology and has informed the approach we have publicly set out for each of our critical technologies. The implementation of the Procurement Act (2023) will support science and technology businesses, for example by requiring larger contracting authorities to publish pipelines of their future procurements and providing more flexibility to procures to use their commercial skills to achieve their outcomes and better communicate their problems to work with suppliers on solutions.

The government set out 5 critical technologies in the Science and Technology Framework, committing to develop a cross-government plan to optimise the science and technology system for each. We have publicly set out our approach to each critical technology, including spending commitments, which for most technologies cover figures for all departments. The government has spent over £2.5bn on AI since 2014. Over the next 10 years we have announced £2.5 billion for quantum technologies, up to £1bn on semiconductors and £2bn for engineering biology. The government has initially committed £70m on Future Telecoms by end of FY 2024/2025.

The Royal Navy is developing plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from warships and Auxiliaries. With regards other vessel emissions: the Royal Navy aims to meet the requirements of International Maritime Organisations (IMO) Conventions and the provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to protect the environment where this can be done without compromising operations or operating capability.

The Royal Navy is working closely with industrial partners to reduce the environmental impact of the Fleet.

Naval ships currently coming into service will have the equipment to reduce oxides of nitrogen to the latest IMO requirements and the Ministry of Defence is already using ultra-low sulphur fuels to minimise sulphur and particulate emissions from combustion exhaust gasses.

We are reviewing the Presidential Executive Order to consider the impact on the UK and UK businesses and consulting with industry during this time. We understand the US policy remains in a consultative phase following the issuance of the Executive Order. As such, it is still under development.

Defra is committed to exploring the use of technology to detect and eradicate Asian hornets. During 2023, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) were deployed to support the National Bee Unit (NBU) in the field but were not successful in locating any nests.

Researchers from the University of Exeter also tested newer, lighter radio tags at a site known to have multiple nests. However, this method was not successful in locating any nests despite a number of attempts. However, the track and trace method which combines a mapping App with GIS data has been successfully used by the NBU to find the large number of nests destroyed this year.

Defra is not aware of any technology that currently exists which is capable of eradicating Asian hornets or preventing their re-establishment.

The National Health Service continues to increase investment in minimally invasive cancer therapies, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy services. Since April 2022, the responsibility for investing in new radiotherapy machines has sat with local systems. This is supported by the 2021 Spending Review, which set aside £12 billion in operational capital for the NHS from 2022 to 2025.

The adoption of new treatments, including increasing the number of minimally invasive cancer treatments and technologies, into the NHS in England is generally the result of National Institution of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance and commissioner decisions. Both NHS England and integrated care boards are required to put in place access for any treatment that carries a positive recommendation from the Technology Appraisal programme, operated by NICE.

Where treatments are approved by NICE through the Technology Appraisals programme, the National Health Service is required to make them available within agreed timescales, which vary by technology. Implementation of any NICE approvals will be supported by the service readiness assessment and the development of additional capacity where necessary.

NHS England’s Specialised Commissioning team has been undertaking work to expand the number of providers offering minimally invasive cancer therapies, such as selective internal radiation therapy. The market engagement and Prior Information Notice aspects of this have now been completed, with regional teams now putting in place the necessary contractual arrangements with NHS trusts.

The Government is committed to increasing diversity within the technology sector. We do this by working with external organisations and employers, and highly value this collaboration to overcome current barriers. We are also improving diversity in the cyber security sector through the National Cyber Strategy. This focuses particularly on attracting more woman and girls to the cyber profession, and includes the CyberFirst Girls Competition which saw over 12,500 girls (aged 12-13) take part this year alone.

We have supported the Tech Talent Charter (TTC) since 2017, a not-for-profit organisation that provides measurement and insights into diversity through its work with over 700 organisations and across 42 industry sectors, representing 160,000 people in UK technology roles. This year, we also commissioned Color in Tech to deliver research exploring what works for attracting and retaining ethnically diverse talent within the technology sector. The data was used to create a best practice toolkit for employers to build an inclusive workplace environment.

HMG supports diverse entrepreneurs through the £12m Digital Growth Grant, delivered by Barclays Eagle Labs to support startups across the UK. In addition to a range of accelerator programmes, mentorship and educational materials funded by the grant, Barclays Eagle Labs and specialist partners are running growth programmes targeted specifically at female founders and black founders. Among the grant’s primary objectives is that at least 35% of all entrepreneurs supported by the programme will come from diverse backgrounds.

Additionally, the £30 million AI and Data Science Conversion Course programme was established to address the lack of diversity and supply of talent in the UK AI labour market. It is funding up to 3000 scholarships for students from backgrounds underrepresented in the tech industry. We are working with industry to co-fund these scholarships - for every one scholarship that industry funds, the government will fund an additional three across the programme. The Digital Skills Council is also harnessing industry efforts to support further action on digital upskilling and improve the diversity of the digital workforce.

The Unicorn Kingdom campaign was launched by GREAT in March 2023. The campaign’s primary purpose is to improve perceptions of the UK tech ecosystem and drive inward investment.

To date the campaign has directly engaged US investors representing over $500 billion in assets under management and several of those investors are actively engaging with HMG in relation to establishing offices in the UK.

A comprehensive evaluation will be completed in 2024 to assess the campaign's impact on international perceptions of the UK's technology ecosystem, the number of overseas investors considering investing in the UK, and the amount of overseas investment attributed to the campaign. We will continue to monitor impact from the campaign beyond this initial evaluation period.