To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether significant Automated Decision-Making is taking place or planned within her Department, and if she will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what internal guidance her Department has issued on the potential impact of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 on automated decision-making.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what safeguards she has implemented to ensure compliance with statutory requirements relating to automated decision-making, including rights to information, human review and challenge in the context of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how individuals are informed that decisions have been taken in (a) whole and (b) part by automated means in the context of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what processes are in place to enable individuals to seek human review and to challenge decisions made by automated systems in the context of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how does the Department define and ensure meaningful human involvement in decisions supported or made by automated systems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what measures are in place to ensure that human oversight is substantive and effective, rather than limited to formal or nominal review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, to what extent are automated decision-making systems used in relation to civil service employment, including recruitment, performance management, discipline, or allocation of work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what consultation has taken place with recognised trade unions regarding the introduction or use of automated decision-making systems affecting staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps has the Department taken to assess and mitigate risks of bias or discrimination arising from the use of automated decision-making systems.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology does not currently use solely automated decisions-making (ADM) with legal or similarly significant effects on individuals. However, should the department decide to use solely ADM in the future, it must comply with the UK’s data protection Laws, namely the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, (as amended by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025), and should have regard to guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as the independent data protection regulator. This includes providing safeguards for individuals such as informing them if significant decisions are taken about them based solely on automated processing, an individual will always be able to challenge such decisions, obtain human Intervention, and make representations to the department about the decision.

If personal data is processed using systems that support a decision, but a human contributes meaningfully to the final outcome, the decision is unlikely to be classed as solely automated decision-making. In these cases, the specific safeguards for solely automated decisions would not apply. However, the processing must still comply with wider data protection requirements, including fairness, lawfulness, transparency and accountability.

Where processing is likely to present a high risk to individuals, a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) will be undertaken to identify and assess those risks and put appropriate mitigations in place. DSIT also operates a data protection complaints procedure, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018, to investigate and respond to any concerns raised by individuals.