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.

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 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.

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.