Question
What role will the Secretary of State’s Department play in the new national centre for information defence, and when will the Government update the House about the composition, roll-out and scalability of that new capability?
Answer
The hon. Gentleman raises an important issue. The role we will play is to bring home some of the lessons we have learned from taking action with allies, for example in relation to disinformation in Moldova, to ensure that we learn those lessons here in the UK.
Verdict: AMBER (38/100)
The reply explains the Department's role in bringing home lessons from working with allies, using the Moldova disinformation example, so the first part of the question is answered, though somewhat broadly. It does not answer the second part: it gives no date for updating the House and no update on the centre's composition, roll-out or scalability, and makes no commitment to report. A member asking this would likely need to follow up for those specifics.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What role will the Secretary of State's Department play in the new national centre for information defence? | Addressed | Direct | The reply states the Department's role directly: bringing home lessons learned from taking action with allies, illustrated by the Moldova disinformation example. The role is described somewhat broadly, but it is a concrete function rather than a platitude. |
| When will the Government update the House on the composition, roll-out and scalability of the new national centre for information defence? | Not Addressed | Generic | The item asks when the House will be updated on the centre's composition, roll-out and scalability, and the reply gives no date, no update on those three aspects, and no commitment to report. The opening remark that the Member 'raises an important issue' is only an acknowledgement. |