Ministerial role

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Future Digital Economy and Online Safety

Responsibilities

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Future Digital Economy and Online Safety (shared with Department for Business and Trade) is responsible for:

  • Online safety and counter-disinformation
  • Digital Markets Unit
  • Tech policy and market facing technology, including skills
  • National Data Library
  • International strategy, including electronic trade
  • Economic security
  • Technology diffusion
  • Technology investment
  • National security and resilience
  • Geospatial Commission

Current role holder

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Business and Trade, and Baroness in Waiting (Government Whip) on 9 July 2024.

Baroness Jones joined the House of Lords in 2006. She has previously served as Shadow Spokesperson for:

  • Science, Innovation and Technology from 2023 to 2024
  • Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2015 to 2022
  • Education from 2011 to 2015
  • Culture, Media and Sport from 2010 to 2014

She was previously a trade union official, including as Director of Policy and Public Affairs for UNISON from 1994 to 2006.

Baroness Jones was previously Chair of Rothamsted Enterprises at the Rothamsted research institute, a Board member at Ombudsman Services, a member of the General Medical Council Fitness to Practice Panel, and Vice chair of Circle Housing Group.

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