Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Question:How many positions in his Department included (a) diversity, (b) inclusion, (c) equity and (d) equality in their job title in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of the salaries of each such job was in each of those years.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) does not routinely collate information on specific words and collating this information would come at a disproportionate cost.
Information on spending and staffing can be found in the Department’s annual report and accounts.
Question: What the total (a) cost of running, (b) number of staff employed and (c) number of people monitored by the National Security Online Information Team was in each year since 2020; and what the reasons for monitoring those people were in each year since 2020.
The National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT) works to identify information threats by analysing narratives and trends from publicly available information online, around topics or events where ministers agree there is a high risk to UK audiences. This does not include the monitoring of individuals.
It is not appropriate for me to share details of the NSOIT’s resourcing as this information could give hostile actors insights into UK capabilities.
Question: What (a) topics and (b) events are being monitored by the National Security Online Information Team
Feryal Clark:
NSOIT leads the operational response to information risks to UK audiences. Its ministerially agreed remit is to focus on public safety and national security risks. This includes mis- and disinformation arising from events such as the public unrest which occurred over the summer as well as ongoing risks to the UK’s core values and democratic processes from foreign states’ interference.