Committee publication · Correspondence · 19 June 2025
Letter from the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology in response to the joint letter from the chairs of the Liaison, Culture, Media & Sport, and Science, Innovation & Technology Committees relating to AI and copyright, dated 19 June 2025
Summary
Secretary of State Peter Kyle responds to chairs of three parliamentary committees regarding a proposed working group on AI and copyright. The government apologises for not consulting committee chairs in advance, clarifies that the group will be DSIT-managed (not parliament-resourced), and proposes it function as a channel for interested MPs and peers to engage with ministers as policy develops, complementing rather than duplicating existing committee scrutiny.
Key findings
- Government apologises for failing to discuss working group proposal with committee chairs before announcing it in parliamentary debate
- Working group will be managed by DSIT with support from DSIT and DCMS officials and ministers, not resourced or managed by parliament
- Intended purpose is to maintain engagement with interested MPs and peers on AI and copyright policy as government develops its thinking
- Government seeks committee chairs' help identifying members with relevant expertise and interest to join the group
- Government proposes the group complement rather than duplicate or undermine existing select committee scrutiny work
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Peter Kyle (Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology), Dame Meg Hillier (Chair, Liaison Committee), Dame Caroline Dinenage (Chair, Culture, Media and Sport Committee), Chi Onwurah (Chair, Science, Innovation and Technology Committee), Minister Bryant, DSIT (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology), DCMS (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Notable line
“We are open to suggestions, but our aim is for the group to be managed by DSIT, supported by officials and Ministers from both DSIT and DCMS …”
Key Quotes
“In our haste to reassure MPs and peers that we would address their desire for ongoing engagement on this topic, we failed to discuss our outline proposals with you in advance.”
“… it is not our intention for this to be a parliamentary group in the sense of being managed or resourced by parliament.”
“… our aim is for the group to be managed by DSIT, supported by officials and Ministers from both DSIT and DCMS, and to act as a channel for those members who have shown such a keen interest in this issue to remain engaged with Ministers and officials as we develop our thinking.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗