The Global Decision Support System (GDSS) remains at an early concept stage; progress has been made to ensure alignment against the Maritime Fighting Web and Defence Targeting Web. GDSS remains subject to financial and programme approval.

The Global Decision Support System (GDSS) remains at an early concept stage; progress has been made to ensure alignment against the Maritime Fighting Web and Defence Targeting Web. GDSS remains subject to financial and programme approval.

The Ministry of Defence remains committed to meeting its obligations under Article III of the North Atlantic Treaty, including maintaining and developing the UK's individual and collective NATO capabilities. Defence draws on its strengths in science and technology research to assess and prioritise emerging technologies that can enhance operational effectiveness, resilience and technological advantage, including quantum technologies, engineering biology and advanced materials. This work is aligned with wider Government and Defence strategies which identify science, technology and innovation as critical enablers of future national security, economic growth and military advantage.

Defence also works closely with NATO and Allies on emerging technologies for Defence capability development and interoperability, including through scientific partnerships, demonstrating the UK's and the Alliance's collective commitment, to strengthening military capability and ensuring NATO remains able to respond to future threats.

The MOD draws on science and technology (S&T) and innovation expertise across the Department, including the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA), academia and industry, to inform procurement decisions. As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, expert S&T and innovation views are included the highest levels of decision making to help shape the strategic vision for Defence investment and support its delivery.

The Department also collaborates with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Department for Business and Trade, UK Research and Innovation, and the Advanced Research and Invention Agency to help ensure taxpayer-funded research supports Defence priority problem sets. This helps inform capability and procurement decisions by assessing technological opportunities, risks and maturity against Defence needs.

The Government is committed to supporting start-ups, and small and medium-sized enterprises to compete for public contracts.

Recent changes to streamline and simplify the Social Value model, which include raising the threshold at which it applies to £1m, will directly benefit SMEs and start-ups wishing to bid for government contracts.

I refer the Hon. Member to Annex A of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Topic Selection Manual, published on 25 August, which is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/process/pmg46/chapter/annex-a-national-healthtech-access-programme

I refer the Hon. Member to Annex A of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Topic Selection Manual, published on 25 August, which is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/process/pmg46/chapter/annex-a-national-healthtech-access-programme

The Secretary of State’s statement to Parliament on 8 September made clear that the government would look at both device-level and app-level measures to protect children from nude imagery. The government will continue to look across the whole technology ecosystem to ensure protections for children are as strong as possible, while also balancing the privacy, security and technical feasibility of measures.

Work is being conducted to assess the compatibility of relevant projects/activities in the RAF Rapid Capabilities Office with the USAF Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (A-GRA).

For example, the UK's PYRAMID Technical Standard open avionics system reference architecture developed by the Ministry of Defence has been shown to be compatible with the A-GRA.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has assessed that modern digital technologies can enhance existing processes and support more efficient case handling. Through its Future Casework Tools programme, the CPS is modernising systems to improve the casework experience and reduce the time required to review case files. The CPS is also working with His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service on initiatives such as digital jury bundles, which aim to increase transparency, accessibility and efficiency in court proceedings.

The CPS has further assessed that artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to deliver substantial efficiency gains by assisting with routine administrative tasks. This can enable prosecutors and other specialists to devote more time to complex legal work and decision-making. The CPS published its AI Vision in July 2025, setting out how AI can be used to drive efficiencies in a legal, safe and ethical manner, while ensuring responsible use, transparency and coordination across the criminal justice system.

The Ministry of Defence has launched the Defence Universities Alliance, bringing together 35 universities to strengthen collaboration on research, skills and talent development. This work has been informed by engagement across Government and supports the Department's wider Science, Technology and Innovation ambitions set out in both the Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy.

As announced at Budget 2025, Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) will be introduced from April 2028. Electric cars will pay 3 pence per mile and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) will pay a reduced rate of 1.5 pence per mile, reflecting that PHEVs will continue to pay fuel duty on the petrol or diesel they use. eVED will ensure that electric and PHEV motorists contribute their fair share for their road usage, in a similar way to drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles who pay fuel duty.

The Government also recognises that the large majority of EVs and PHEVs have in-built connectivity and will begin developing an opt-in version of eVED that could make use of these technologies to provide a quicker, easier-to-use and more flexible system for motorists.

The Government has published information on who is likely to be affected by eVED, including expected impacts on motorists, businesses and the wider economy, as part of the published Tax Information and Impact Note. (Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) - GOV.UK).

The Home Office works closely with policing partners, including the National Police Chiefs' Council and the Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser, to support the development, testing and evaluation of technologies that can improve public and officer safety.

Through this work, the Department supports policing to assess emerging technologies, build the evidence base for their use and identify opportunities to learn from innovation and best practice, including developments in other countries where relevant. The Home Office also supports research, development and trialling activity in a range of areas aligned to policing operational needs.

Decisions on the operational use of technology are for chief constables, who are responsible for ensuring that any technology deployed by their force is lawful, proportionate and suitable for local policing requirements.

The National Wealth Fund (NWF) proactively identifies investment opportunities across the UK to ensure the benefits of investment are felt nationwide. It has dedicated directors based in all devolved nations to support the NWF’s view of markets across the country, and works collaboratively with the Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB) across a range of investments.

The NWF has invested £9 million in transportation and hubs across Scotland, including expected rollout locations of Gridserve, Osprey and Roam EV charging at the point of financial close.

The NWF has invested £287 million in digital and technologies in Scotland, including expected fibre rollouts and two DataVita data centres in Scotland’s AI Growth Zone.

The NWF has invested nearly £2.5 billion in clean energy in Scotland, across ports, power grids, battery storage, and wind investments. This includes a significant financial guarantee to support four major SSEN grid upgrade projects.

The NWF has invested £44 million in advanced manufacturing in Scotland, including a co-investment with the Scottish National Investment Bank into Pulpex sustainable packaging.

UK Research and Innovation and the Science and Technology Facilities Council undertook a structured assessment of the impacts of different funding options across STFC's portfolio. This considered factors including scientific excellence, long-term research impact, strategic importance to the UK, international leadership, value for money and the preservation of capabilities that would be difficult or impossible to recreate if lost. Major international subscriptions are being fully protected, helping to maintain UK participation in world-leading facilities and collaborations. As part of the prioritisation process, STFC grant funding for Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics postdoctoral researchers was maintained at 2025/26 levels, protect funding for grant funded postdoc researchers at 25/26 levels, while PhD studentships and fellowships were also protected.

Due to reasons of operational security, I am unable to provide any further detail beyond that already contained in the press release.

The Department has not conducted any research into using connected vehicle technology in this situation.

The Ministry of Defence is taking a range of approaches to accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies. The Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser (OCSA) is leading work to cohere and drive our Defence-wide science, innovation and technology (SIT) enterprise. This includes organisations in National Armaments such as the Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and UK Defence Innovation (UKDI), which is working with Military Commands, innovators and commercial partners to identify operational needs and rapidly develop and exploit promising technologies. Defence is working on a broad range of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), autonomy, quantum, directed energy weapons and engineering biology. Activity spans research, development, integration, testing and trials, doctrine and policy – all the elements needed to field military capabilities incorporating emerging technologies successfully.

UK Defence Innovation (UKDI), launched on 1 July 2025, unites expertise from previously separate organisations to accelerate the delivery of cutting-edge innovative capabilities, ensuring the United Kingdom remains secure at home and strong abroad. With ringfenced annual funding of at least £400 million, UKDI consolidates innovation efforts across the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to rapidly deliver new technology to the front line and support the growth of a robust defence technology industry.

UKDI serves as a catalyst for growth in the defence, security, and dual-use technology sectors, contributing to the governments aims by creating highly skilled jobs and driving economic growth. Since July 2026, UKDI has been transitioning into its fully designed operating model, with the financial year 2026/27 serving as a transitional period focused on scaling delivery, embedding performance management, and demonstrating measurable impact against Defence outcomes.

The new Defence acquisition model establishes a single, coherent route for innovation from idea to delivery, embedding innovation within core decision-making processes rather than treating it as a parallel activity. Innovation is mandated at every stage—including problem statements, options development, commercial design, commissioning, and delivery—to ensure the early exploitation of novel technologies. UKDI prioritises and funds innovation alongside all other Defence activities, operating within the same strategic frameworks and governance while maintaining the necessary freedoms to operate at pace.

His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is satisfied that the protective body armour issued to specialist staff is appropriate for its intended operational purpose. The equipment was selected to provide protection against identified risks while remaining suitable for prolonged operational use. Feedback from users and operational assurance arrangements continue to inform our assessment of its effectiveness.

Following the serious assault at HMP Frankland in April 2025, HMPPS has taken steps to strengthen staff safety and is progressing a range of protective capabilities intended to reduce the risk and impact of assaults on prison officers.

This includes a significant expansion in the provision of protective body armour, with HMPPS committed to equipping up to 10,000 staff by March 2027. Protective body armour is already mandated for staff working in some of the highest-risk areas of the Long-Term High Security Estate, and it also used in other high-risk operational contexts.

HMPPS has introduced Conducted Energy Devices (CEDs), commonly known as TASERs, on a phased and controlled basis, by staff in its specialist Operational Response and Resilience Unit. This has enabled HMPPS to test capability in the prison environment, learn from operational use and develop the necessary policy, training, assurance and safeguards. Subject to the necessary governance and operational arrangements being in place, HMPPS plans to begin training Local Response Team staff across the Long Term High Security Estate in the use of CEDs later this year.

These measures form part of HMPPS’s wider risk-based and evidence-led approach to staff safety, ensuring that new protective capabilities are introduced in a controlled and proportionate way and informed by operational learning.

Fraud is the most common crime in this country; its impact can be devastating for individuals and businesses and this Government is committed to tackling it, including by the doubling of the Economic Crime Levy. The Fisher Review made a number of recommendations, including on the role of technology companies, and we are considering those recommendations thoroughly.

We cannot comment on specific assessments into cyber-security risks. The protection and security of the energy sector is an absolute priority of this Government. As an open economy, we welcome foreign trade and investment where it supports growth and jobs in the UK, meets our stringent legal and regulatory requirements, and does not compromise our national security.

We continue to take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing relations with China and will co-operate where we can, and challenge where we must.

Ethical and integrity considerations are integral to government procurement. Any credible concerns relating to governance, legality, security, or human rights are assessed alongside technical and commercial factors. A supplier that does not meet the required legal, ethical, or security standards will not be eligible for a government contract.

Ethical and integrity considerations are integral to government procurement. Any credible concerns relating to governance, legality, security, or human rights are assessed alongside technical and commercial factors. A supplier that does not meet the required legal, ethical, or security standards will not be eligible for a government contract.

Ethical and integrity considerations are integral to government procurement. Any credible concerns relating to governance, legality, security, or human rights are assessed alongside technical and commercial factors. A supplier that does not meet the required legal, ethical, or security standards will not be eligible for a government contract.

The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) outlines how Defence will outpace threats, including rapid advances in technology, through sustained investment in warfighting readiness, the rapid introduction of new capabilities, and the integration of advanced and emerging technologies across the force. This requires a model of constant innovation and there is therefore no end state for the Integrated Force.

Evidence gathered through force testing events, as well as lessons identified from contemporary conflicts, will ensure we constantly evaluate the impact of changing technology on our force design and the threat trajectory of our adversaries. The Secretary of State will receive an annual statement detailing how the integrated force model has changed in response to ensure accountability for the continual adaptation of the Integrated Force over time.

The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme is sustaining and growing the UK’s Combat Air sector and the UK's strong international position in combat air exports. The Global Combat Air Programme will deliver a sixth-generation crewed combat aircraft which is well-placed for export. Technologies developed through FCAS offer further, wide opportunities for export.

The United States is our close ally and tech partner. We are committed to ensuring that that bond delivers real benefits for hardworking people on both sides of the Atlantic.

We continue to have regular discussions with the US administration on science and technology, including co-hosting the upcoming Global Fusion Policy Summit with the US later this month.

As part of the wider the Technology Prosperity Deal, America’s top technology and AI firms committed to invest a combined £31 billion into the UK. These investments will build new data centres, grow AI start-ups and develop advanced quantum computers.

The government remains committed to ensuring effective oversight of science and technology investment across departments.

Individual departments remain responsible for their own science and technology budgets. Following the transfer of science and innovation responsibilities to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, the government continues to ensure effective cross-government oversight through existing cross-departmental governance arrangements for science and technology, bringing departments together to align investments, share evidence and identify opportunities for collaboration on shared priorities.

The Department will continue to work with Ministers, the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, the CSA network, HMT and senior R&D officials across Government to maintain a strategic view of science and technology investment across Government, and help ensure that science and technology investment delivers maximum benefit for the UK.

The Government is implementing Recommendation 7 of the Strategic Defence Review through reforms to Defence's Science, Technology and Innovation system, ensuring it is better aligned to Defence priorities and able to deliver technological advantage at greater pace.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) continue to provide Defence's core research, analysis and evaluation capabilities, including long-term and applied research and the development of technologies critical to national security. The Ministry of Defence has also established UK Defence Innovation (UKDI), delivering the Strategic Defence Review recommendation to provide dedicated funding to support innovative UK companies and accelerate the adoption of technologies that strengthen Defence and Security capability. Together with the Defence Investment Unit, these organisations form a more integrated science, technology and innovation system within the National Armaments Director Group.

The Ministry of Defence has also launched the Defence Universities Alliance, bringing together 35 universities to strengthen collaboration on research, skills and talent development, and is implementing a new approach to horizon scanning and strategic foresight. This work has been informed by engagement across Government and supports the Department's wider Science, Technology and Innovation ambitions set out in both the Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy.

The JEF continues to build its role in defence innovation, with First Sea Lord’s JEF Maritime initiative marking a significant step forward in the JEF Northern Navies partnership. It underscores a shared commitment among JEF partners to move beyond periodic activity towards a more integrated maritime enterprise enabling forces to combine rapidly, operate seamlessly and respond decisively and immediately to emerging threats

By renewing emphasis on collaboration and aligning doctrine, training, planning, sustainment and capability development, JEF nations will operate more closely than ever before, building trust, interoperability to act and fight together and ultimately the ability to substitute, swap, or mix equipment, parts, ammunition, or personnel across participating navies. At the March 2026 JEF Leaders' Summit, leaders agreed further measures to strengthen NATO's northern flank, enhance readiness and deterrence, counter hybrid threats, protect critical infrastructure and deepen cooperation with Ukraine.

The Government is implementing Recommendation 7 of the Strategic Defence Review through reforms to Defence's Science, Technology and Innovation system, ensuring it is better aligned to Defence priorities and able to deliver technological advantage at greater pace.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) continue to provide Defence's core research, analysis and evaluation capabilities, including long-term and applied research and the development of technologies critical to national security. The Ministry of Defence has also established UK Defence Innovation (UKDI), delivering the Strategic Defence Review recommendation to provide dedicated funding to support innovative UK companies and accelerate the adoption of technologies that strengthen Defence and Security capability. Together with the Defence Investment Unit, these organisations form a more integrated science, technology and innovation system within the National Armaments Director Group.

The Ministry of Defence has also launched the Defence Universities Alliance, bringing together 35 universities to strengthen collaboration on research, skills and talent development, and is implementing a new approach to horizon scanning and strategic foresight. This work has been informed by engagement across Government and supports the Department's wider Science, Technology and Innovation ambitions set out in both the Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy.

Since publication of the Strategic Defence Review, the Ministry of Defence has continued work to strengthen digital, cyber, data and AI capabilities, accelerate innovation, and implement reforms to improve the delivery of advanced technologies to the Armed Forces.

The Defence Industrial Strategy also supports delivery of the Strategic Defence Review's vision through a new partnership with industry, strengthening innovation, driving growth, and improving the UK's ability to develop and field advanced military capabilities quickly.

The Government is implementing Recommendation 7 of the Strategic Defence Review through reforms to Defence's Science, Technology and Innovation system, ensuring it is better aligned to Defence priorities and able to deliver technological advantage at greater pace.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) continue to provide Defence's core research, analysis and evaluation capabilities, including long-term and applied research and the development of technologies critical to national security. The Ministry of Defence has also established UK Defence Innovation (UKDI), delivering the Strategic Defence Review recommendation to provide dedicated funding to support innovative UK companies and accelerate the adoption of technologies that strengthen Defence and Security capability. Together with the Defence Investment Unit, these organisations form a more integrated science, technology and innovation system within the National Armaments Director Group.

The Ministry of Defence has also launched the Defence Universities Alliance, bringing together 35 universities to strengthen collaboration on research, skills and talent development, and is implementing a new approach to horizon scanning and strategic foresight. This work has been informed by engagement across Government and supports the Department's wider Science, Technology and Innovation ambitions set out in both the Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy.

Since publication of the Defence Industrial Strategy on 8 September 2025, the Department has strengthened collaboration with industry, NATO Allies and international partners, including the United States, to support UK defence exports, deepen strategic partnerships, improve information sharing and promote a NATO-first approach to industrial co-operation. National Armaments International is supporting UK companies to compete overseas, with record successes in 2025 including the UK’s biggest ever warship deal to Norway and the largest fighter jet exports agreement in a generation, promoting global security while boosting growth at home.

The Department is also giving industry clearer long-term demand signals, investing in priority capabilities, strengthening supply chains and rebuilding capacity in critical sectors including munitions, complex weapons, shipbuilding and combat air. Alongside this, it is investing in defence skills, regional growth, innovation and expanded production capacity, while exploring further measures - through the Defence Readiness Bill which is due later this Parliament - to support industrial resilience, readiness and surge capacity.

As part of our NATO-first approach, the UK continues to work with Allies to deliver the ambitions of NATO’s Defence Production Action Plan and NATO’s Industrial Capacity Expansion Pledge to improve industrial readiness, resilience, interoperability and surge capacity across the Alliance. The UK also joined Allies in endorsing the new Strategy for Industry NATO Cooperation at the recent Ankara summit and maintains a strong partnership with the UK delegation to the NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG), enabling senior industrialists to offer expertise and strategic insight on a wide range of security policy, defence planning, and capability issues. The UK’s hosting of the NIAG plenary in June 2026 also showcased a shared government-industry commitment to our national contribution to NATO’s collective capability and the opportunities for Allied industrial cooperation.

The Government is supporting agri-tech through targeted innovation, adoption, scale-up and export measures. In the Industrial Strategy, we committed to invest at least £200 million in the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) by 2030, with £123 million available for FIP competitions in 2026/27, including Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships to crowd in private capital and grants to help farmers trial and adopt new technologies. Innovate UK programmes will help businesses commercialise and manufacture new products, while a new Agri-Tech Export Accelerator will support firms to pursue global opportunities. Agri-tech companies can also access wides support for skills, business finance and innovation.

The first AUKUS Pillar II Signature Project, developing cutting-edge payloads for nations’ Uncrewed Undersea Vehicles, is demonstrating how trusted allies can work together on advanced technologies. It is testing the core features of a future technology partnership, including shared priorities and requirements from the outset, interoperability by design, early industry involvement, and export control and technology sharing reforms.

Additionally, the Maritime Big Play exercise series under Pillar II provides an operational testing ground to integrate and demonstrate autonomous and uncrewed maritime technologies into interoperable and interchangeable capabilities.

The Ultra-Long Duration Energy Storage (ULDES) Challenge is part of the Government's Research and Development Mission Accelerator Programme (R&D MAP). A key element of the Programme is a focus not only on technology development, but also on the wider policy, regulatory, market and commercial conditions needed for successful deployment. DESNZ is working closely with UK Research and Innovation, regulators and industry to identify how they can work together to ensure that technologies emerging from the Programme can achieve real-world deployment and impact.

The Government recognises that there are opportunities to improve how the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) accommodates and recognises new energy-saving technologies and is taking steps to address these as part of the transition to the Home Energy Model.

We have strengthened our latest contractual Key Performance Indicators to refine guidance materials and improve application timescales. Additionally, the new modular HEM will enable new technologies to be recognised in the core engine on a more frequent basis, removing the need for a ‘bolt-on’ calculation.

The Government is taking steps to ensure that the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) continues to recognise innovative energy- saving technologies and remains fit for purpose during the transition to the Home Energy Model.

We have strengthened KPIs in our latest contracts to improve application timescales and the operation of the product recognition process. This includes working with our commercial partners to define timeframes where appropriate and refining guidance materials to deliver a clearer end-to-end process.

We are committed to improving access to National Health Service dentistry and are making use of available digital tools to help patients identify where NHS dental care may be available. For example, the NHS website’s “Find a dentist” service remains a key route for patients to identify local NHS dental practices and whether they are accepting new patients. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist

NHS dentists are required to update their NHS.UK website profiles, which include information on whether they are accepting new patients, at least every 90 days, to ensure patients have up-to-date information on where they can access care.

In the longer term, our 10-Year Health Plan sets out our vision for the future of the NHS, with a shift from analogue to digital, harnessing the power of modern technology to create the most digitally accessible health system in the world.

Defence continues to engage with companies, SMEs, investors and academic institutions across the defence and dual-use technology sectors to support innovation, strengthen the UK industrial base and bolster UK sovereign capability. However, the Department does not maintain records of engagement categorised by Parliamentary constituency.

In March 2026, government and Ofgem published the Energy Digitalisation Framework to provide strategic direction for energy sector digitalisation. The Framework introduced a data domain model to improve data quality and standardisation across key areas, including system and network operation.

It also established the concept of a Digitalisation Coordination Function to support common standards, architectural coherence and cross-sector alignment. The Department plans to consult on the Function’s design later this year.

Government are taking steps to improve visibility of low carbon technology assets on the distribution network, including through an industry group and new primary legislation when parliamentary time allows.

The upcoming Energy Resilience Strategy will seize the once in a generation opportunity presented by the clean energy transition to build a stronger, more resilient energy system.

It would be inappropriate to pre-empt the content of the Strategy at this time, however I can confirm the Strategy will set out Government's strategic priorities for a secure and resilient system, now and in the future and our approach to its delivery, working with industry, the system operator, the regulator and wider society.