As part of a digitally inclusive society, television content should be accessible for all UK audiences. That is why in December 2017, DCMS asked Ofcom to provide recommendations on making on-demand services more accessible. This is part of the implementation of the new power given to the Secretary of State to impose accessibility requirements on on-demand service providers.

Ofcom published its report in December 2018 and my department has been considering the report and engaging with stakeholders to develop the future legislative framework. We will set out next steps in due course.

The Cabinet Office is taking a cross-Government approach to the safeguarding of our electoral processes through the Defending Democracy programme and we continue to work closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). This work is led within the Cabinet Office by the Minister for the Constitution, under the oversight of the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

The Government remains committed to ensuring our electoral law is fit for purpose, now and into the future. In May this year, the Government announced we would be launching a consultation on electoral integrity. As part of that, we are considering measures to strengthen the regulatory framework around elections and ensure they are fully up to date for a modern electoral system. We are also awaiting the publication of the final report from the Law Commission on their review of electoral law, which we understand will be published early next year, and will look at their recommendations and comments with interest.

DCMS is responsible for data protection policy and sponsors the independent regulator of the Data Protection Act 2018, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). The ICO are consulting on a draft framework code of practice for the use of personal data in political campaigning, which concluded on 04 October.

The Cabinet Office is taking a cross-Government approach to the safeguarding of our electoral processes through the Defending Democracy programme and we continue to work closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). This work is led within the Cabinet Office by the Minister for the Constitution, under the oversight of the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

The Government remains committed to ensuring our electoral law is fit for purpose, now and into the future. In May this year, the Government announced we would be launching a consultation on electoral integrity. As part of that, we are considering measures to strengthen the regulatory framework around elections and ensure they are fully up to date for a modern electoral system. We are also awaiting the publication of the final report from the Law Commission on their review of electoral law, which we understand will be published early next year, and will look at their recommendations and comments with interest.

DCMS is responsible for data protection policy and sponsors the independent regulator of the Data Protection Act 2018, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). The ICO are consulting on a draft framework code of practice for the use of personal data in political campaigning, which concluded on 04 October.

The details of meetings between Ministers and their advisers are confidential.

Having a comprehensive anonymised view of how people interact with government services online is an important part of developing services which provide information in a way users understand.

Details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

I cannot comment on the content of Cabinet discussions but, as I told the House last week, the judgment sets out the definitive and final legal position on the advice given to Her Majesty on the Prorogation of Parliament. We are carefully and deliberatively considering the implications of that judgment. We need some time to do it, but a Queen’s Speech is necessary to bring forward a fresh legislative programme, and a short Prorogation, as announced yesterday, is necessary—we are advised to this effect by the parliamentary authorities—for the Queen’s Speech.

There is no plan to place such correspondence in the library but the Government is clear that the future of the over 75 licence fee concession is the responsibility of the BBC.

The Government is disappointed with the BBC’s decision. People across the country value television as a way to stay connected, and the Government has asked the BBC to look at further ways to support older people.

Probation services supervise offenders on licence and, if offenders breach their conditions, the Offender Manager will assess their level of risk and, if the conclusion is that the offender cannot be safely managed in the community, will recall the offender to prison. Officials in the Public Protection Casework Section in HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) will then formally revoke the offender’s licence. Public protection is our priority.

HMPPS engagement about information sharing is primarily with the Police as it is the Chief Constable of each police force who is responsible for operational policing decisions. Police officers will sometimes receive or obtain information about an offender on licence which is relevant for the purposes of determining whether the offender has breached his licence conditions. I have asked my officials to work with the Police to ensure that police officers have a sound understanding of the system of licensed supervision and of the importance of sharing information with probation services as soon as possible whenever an offender on licence comes to their attention.

The Home Secretary has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice on a range of topics.

Decisions about pre-charge bail and release from custody must be made according to the criteria set out in relevant legislation, and where information from other agencies is used to inform such decisions it must be processed in accordance with relevant legal parameters.

All probation providers must adhere to the published Policy Framework on Recall, Review and Re-Release of Recalled Prisoners, including on the steps Responsible Officers must take to satisfy themselves that a recall request is appropriate. The Policy Framework also contains the ‘Recall Best Practice Guide: Working with Recalled Prisoners’ for use by all probation and prison staff involved in the recall process.

The Policy Framework is available online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recall-review-and-re-release-of-recalled-prisoners

The Ministry of Justice assesses the quality of alternative risk assessment tools proposed by Community Rehabilitation Companies and sets a number of conditions for approval including a requirement for ongoing research and evaluation to ensure the tool is fit for purpose. Under our proposals for future probation arrangements responsibility for undertaking risk assessment processes will sit with staff in the National Probation Service.

We are still at the early stages of using algorithms in the criminal justice system, primarily as decision support tools to aid professional judgement. We have internal process in place to ensure we develop and roll-out algorithmic models appropriately and responsibly and are working with The Alan Turing Institute to make sure use of these models is ethical, safe and fair

These tools are one element of a number of measures for assessing the risk of re-offending: offender managers make robust risk assessments based on their professional expertise. The most complex cases, and those with the highest assessed risk of re-offending or causing harm, will attract the most intensive intervention. In all cases, the professional judgement of the offender manager is a key factor in deciding what measures are needed to manage an offender and prevent re-offending.

All decisions around the application of pre-charge bail and release from custody must comply with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 its associated Codes of Practice.

The use of pre-charge bail must be necessary and proportionate, and all persons in custody must be dealt with expeditiously, and released as soon as the need for detention no longer applies, as set out in PACE Code C.

The Home Office has not published guidance specifically on the use of algorithms for pre-charge bail and release from custody.

However, the Home Office recognises that emerging data enabled technologies have the potential to transform policing, creating a more efficient and effective service. The Government set up the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI) as an advisory body set up by Government and led by an independent board of expert members to investigate and advise on how we can maximise the benefits of these technologies.

The CDEI is conducting a review into the issue of algorithmic bias in various sectors, including crime and justice. The review will aim to support the development of technical means for identifying algorithmic bias that have scope to be applied across different sectors and produce recommendations to government about how any potential harms can be identified and minimised.

Details for the contract Transforming Rehabilitation contracts with Working Links in Wales are published on Contracts Finder;

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/933013f7-cfc2-4880-8e84-0bdb84d7e94f?p=@FQxUlRRPT0=NjJNT08=U

Algorithmic tools are used both by the National Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Companies to support decision making and aid professional judgement in assessing the level of risk posed by offenders. We have internal processes in place to ensure we develop and roll-out algorithmic models appropriately and responsibly and are working with The Alan Turing Institute to make sure the use of these models is ethical, safe and fair. These tools are one element of a number of measures for assessing the risk of re-offending: In all cases, the professional judgement of the offender manager is a key factor in deciding what measures are needed to manage an offender and prevent re-offending.

The Home Office has regular discussions with Police and Crime Commissioners across a wide range of issues.

We recognise the potential that the use of emerging technologies present in the Criminal Justice System for improving outcomes for citizens and also the importance of ensuring that these are used in a way which is compliant with appropriate legal and ethical frameworks. We welcome the work by the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI) to develop a code of practice for use of algorithms in predictive policing and will be working with them to develop it.

There are strong links between the UK and civil society in Lesotho. Our support for civil society includes the volunteering for development programme, through which we are working in Lesotho to support young people’s rights, and access to sexual and reproductive health services.