Every parliamentary written question tabled by Alan Mak this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 41 · this parliament
If he will publish a list of government bodies qualifying as regulators by sponsoring department.
Yes. While there is no standard definition of a regulator, we will publish a list of all regulators that can be considered as meeting various possible definitions, and will keep it updated in response to feedback. This will be published by September on the Regulation for Growth GOV.UK page: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/regulation-for-growth.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to recommendation 14 of the report commissioned by his Department entitled AI Opportunities Action Plan, published on 13 January 2025, what steps he is taking to (a) maintain and (b) further the UK’s position as a leader in AI innovation through international compute partnerships.
The Government recognises the importance of international collaboration to unlock AI’s potential, including through compute partnerships. We are engaging likeminded countries to explore partnerships that expand access to compute infrastructure and catalyse joint research. This includes maximising our membership of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking and working with other likeminded partners to support researchers.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to recommendation 28 of the report commissioned by his Department entitled AI Opportunities Action Plan, published on 13 January 2025, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on how regulators have enabled AI innovation in their sectors.
Artificial intelligence is the defining opportunity of our generation, and the Government is taking action to harness its economic benefits for UK citizens. As set out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, we believe most AI systems should be regulated at the point of use, with our expert regulators best placed to do so. Departments are working proactively with regulators to provide clear strategic direction and support them on their AI capability needs. Through well-designed and implemented regulation, we can fuel fast, wide and safe development and adoption of AI. I regularly engage with Cabinet colleagues on this matter.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to recommendation 14 of the report commissioned by his Department entitled AI Opportunities Action Plan, published on 13 January 2025, when he plans to publish an updated assessment of skills required.
Reducing the AI skills gap is critical for increasing the UK’s productivity and delivering long-term growth. In June, the Department for Education published an analysis of the skills needs for 10 priority sectors, including digital technology, and we are working with them and Skills England to further assess the skills gap and map pathways to fill it. We additionally announced a joint commitment with industry to upskill 7.5 million workers with vital AI skills. DSIT also regularly reviews the status of the UK’s AI labour market and has commissioned a survey of the labour market, which will be published later this year.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to the report commissioned by his Department entitled AI Opportunities Action Plan, published on 13 January 2025, what recent progress he has made in the implementation of the plan.
The Government welcomed the AI Opportunities Action Plan and accepted all of its 50 recommendations.Progress has been made across a range of areas, including holding two AI Energy Council meeting, signing an MOU with Anthropic, and opening the formal AI Growth Zone application process.At the Spending Review the Government announced a £2 billion investment in AI to 2029-30, to continue to deliver on the Action Plan. This includes funding to enable a twentyfold expansion of the UK’s AI Research Resource.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to recommendation 3 in his Department's policy paper entitled AI Opportunities Action Plan: government response, published on 13 January 2025, when he plans to outline his mission-focused plans.
The Government agreed to take forward all the recommendations in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, including to set out a long-term plan for compute. The Government will set out this plan by the end of the summer.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to recommendation 6 in his Department's policy paper entitled AI Opportunities Action Plan: government response, published on 13 January 2025, what steps he plans to take to agree international compute partnerships with likeminded countries to increase the types of compute capability available to researchers and catalyse research collaborations.
The Government recognises the importance of international collaboration to unlock AI’s potential, including through compute partnerships. We are engaging likeminded countries to explore partnerships that expand access to compute infrastructure and catalyse joint research. This includes maximising our membership of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking and working with other likeminded partners to support researchers.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to recommendation 5 in his Department's policy paper entitled AI Opportunities Action Plan: government response, published on 13 January 2025, what steps he plans to take to ensure the secure use of AI infrastructure while protecting users' privacy.
The Government is delivering on its commitment to secure AI infrastructure through the designation of UK data centres as Critical National Infrastructure and the creation of AI Growth Zones to fast-track development. Alongside this, with the fast growth of the UK’s AI sector, the National Data Library will provide trusted data foundations needed to support the delivery of a modern digital economy and the Government’s Plan for Change, AI Opportunities Action Plan, and Blueprint for Modern Digital Government. These measures ensure that AI infrastructure is both resilient and trusted, supporting innovation while protecting the public’s privacy.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to recommendation 1 in his Department's policy paper entitled AI Opportunities Action Plan: government response, published on 13 January 2025, when he plans to publish a long-term compute strategy for the UK's AI infrastructure.
The Government agreed to take forward all the recommendations in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, including to set out a long-term plan for compute. The Government will set out this plan by the end of the summer.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to recommendation 13 in his Department's policy paper entitled AI Opportunities Action Plan: government response, published on 13 January 2025, what discussions he has had with the (a) Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, (b) creative industries and (c) technology sector on the potential for a copyright cleared British media asset training data set, which can be licenced internationally at scale.
The Industrial Strategy outlines important activity the Government is taking to grow our world-leading Creative Industries in clusters across the UK. This builds on the AI Opportunities Action Plan recommendations and includes a proposal for a Creative Content Exchange to become a trusted marketplace for selling, buying, licensing, and enabling permitted access to digitised cultural and creative assets. As part of this, and on an ongoing basis, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology and DSIT officials are actively working with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in engaging with a range of organisations, including from the creative industries and technology sectors.
Innovation and Technology, if he will list the (a) project titles, (b) amount awarded, (c) date of award and (d) recipients of UKRI funding since 5 July 2024.
The Gateway to Research (GtR) website https://gtr.ukri.org/ has been developed by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to enable users to search for and analyse information about funded research and innovation.GtR publishes award data quarterly, and the website is open and free for all to use, and has been developed using open source, open standards and an Open Government Licence (OGL) to enable the code to be reused by third parties.
Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help secure future life sciences research in UK.
The Government is taking decisive steps to secure the future of life sciences research in the UK. The upcoming Life Sciences Sector Plan sets out a bold vision to strengthen world-class R&D, attract global investment, and accelerate healthcare innovation. This includes investment in cutting-edge research infrastructure, support for talent and skills, and deeper collaboration between academia, industry, and the NHS. The recent announcement of BioNTech’s c.£1 billion R&D investment demonstrates our ambition to secure the future of life sciences research and development in the UK.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK-EU Strategic Partnership, announced 19 May 2025, what discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) his EU counterparts on whether participation in joint UK–EU research programmes will be conditional on UK adherence to EU rules on (a) gene editing technologies and (b) the precautionary principle.
We have now agreed the parameters which will establish a UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers.We will update on progress with discussions with the EU in due course, but the UK has been clear about the importance of supporting the use of new and innovative technologies.
Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the UK-EU Strategic Partnership, announced on 19 May 2025, on the UK's regulatory framework for gene editing in agriculture and medicine.
We have now agreed the parameters which will establish a UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers.We will update on progress with discussions with the EU in due course, but the UK has been clear about the importance of supporting the use of new and innovative technologies.
Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on whether gene-editing technology exports to the EU will need to (a) meet UK domestic standards only or (b) conform to future changes to EU SPS rules.
We have now agreed the parameters which will establish a UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers.We will update on progress with discussions with the EU in due course, but the UK has been clear about the importance of supporting the use of new and innovative technologies.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to recommendation 4 of the independent report entitled AI Opportunities Action Plan, published by his Department on 13 January 2025, whether he plans to introduce a streamlined planning approvals process for AI Growth Zones.
The Government is committed to enabling the timely delivery of AI infrastructure across the UK. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will support the streamlining of planning approvals for AI infrastructure and data centres, building on work led by MHCLG and reinforced by the inclusion of data centres in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects consenting approach.The AI Opportunities Action Plan sets out measures to enable the growth of AI infrastructure, including addressing challenges such as planning and energy access. As part of this, the Government is engaging with local and regional authorities, and relevant regulators to support timely decision-making.
Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the life sciences strategy.
The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology has worked closely with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the development of the Life Sciences Strategy. The strategy has been developed in tandem with the NHS’s 10-Year Plan to ensure alignment between health and industrial policy. This collaboration has included the co-commissioning of a series of task and finish groups to support the strategy’s development and ensure strong alignment between the two plans, maximising their impact on both health outcomes and economic growth.
Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the life sciences strategy.
The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology and their officials have been in regular engagement with the Chancellor, HM Treasury, and colleagues across government on the Life Sciences Strategy and the wider Industrial Strategy. Health and life sciences are key drivers of economic growth, productivity, and global competitiveness—making close collaboration with HM Treasury essential to ensuring the strategy aligns with the government’s broader Plan for Growth. The strategy sets out targeted action to strengthen world-class R&D, attract investment, and accelerate healthcare innovation—supporting high-growth businesses, improving health outcomes, and reinforcing the UK’s global leadership in life sciences.
Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in levels of funding for medicines on life sciences research.
The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology is working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care on the current Mid Scheme Review for the Voluntary Scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth (VPAG) and is aware of the impact which funding of medicines could have on life sciences research. In addition, the upcoming Life Sciences Sector Plan will set out a bold vision to strengthen world-class R&D, attract global investment, and accelerate healthcare innovation to ensure the UK remains a strong place for life sciences research.
Innovation and Technology, if he will hold discussions with technology firms on the costs of compliance with data protection regulations.
Yes, we have and we will continue to do so. The Data (Use and Access) Bill includes provisions that are designed to simplify the data protection legislation for organisations, while maintaining high standards of protection.