Written questions by Hayes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what purposes the British Council has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

The British Council has incorporated Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its work to optimise productivity and efficiency. Examples include supply chain management and predictive analytics, automation of recruitment activities, analysis of grant applications, and the use of tools such as Copilot, Perplexity AI and ChatGPT in workplace activities.The British Council released a commercial AI capability last year where AI is used to assess and adapt to English language learners' proficiency in real time. This capability will be incorporated into new learning and assessment initiatives.The British Council is operationally independent from the UK Government.

How many people have been referred by the NHS’s Gender Dysphoria National Referral Support Services for masculinising chest surgery in the last five years.

Referrals for masculinising chest surgery are made by the specialist clinical teams in the NHS Gender Dysphoria Clinics, not by the NHS Gender Dysphoria National Referral Support Service (GDNRSS). The non-clinical role of the GDNRSS is to process the referrals on behalf of the providers.Between 1 April 2020 and 31 December 2024, the GDNRSS received 5,463 requests for masculinising chest surgery.

Food and Rural Affairs, for what purposes the Environment Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country. The Environment Agency uses artificial intelligence for a number of purposes: We use ‘Hello Lamp Post’, an AI powered chat bot to support our work by sharing information with the public about our role, the benefits our assets provide, information specific to our flood defence projects, and to engage the public in conversations about resilience and adaptation to flooding and coastal change. We have been part of Microsoft Copilot trials investigating the role it can play in achieving productivity gains across the Environment Agency. We also have several ongoing theoretical investigations and practical pilot projects to explore further uses of AI and Machine Learning within the Environment Agency. We draw from a range of existing government guidance to inform our usage and development of AI solutions. This includes the AI playbook for UK Government, Ethics, Transparency and Accountability Framework, the Data Ethics Framework, the AI Opportunities Action Plan and the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard. We also have access to the Government Digital Service, part of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, for expert advice.

What steps her Department plans to take to support the provision of sixth form education in South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

All young people should have access to high quality education and training that meets their needs and provides them with opportunities to thrive. Over £7.5 billion of 16-19 programme funding will be invested during the 2024/25 academic year.As announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, the government is providing an additional £300 million for further education in the 2025/26 financial year to ensure young people are developing the skills they need to succeed.Local authorities have statutory duties to support young people into education and training, which includes securing sufficient suitable education and training provision. There are currently four secondary schools offering post-16 sixth form provision in the South Holland and the Deepings constituency. All four sixth-form provisions received sub-judgements of good in their latest published Ofsted inspections.

For what purposes the Education and Skills Funding Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.The Education and Skills Finding Agency (ESFA) has aligned to the wider departmental approach in this area. Specifically, the department has been using Microsoft Copilot, an AI-based web chat with commercial protection, for various means, including:​Question answering – searching the web to answer a range of questions from factual, creative to analytical.​Information retrieval and summarisation – for example from a policy or data publication.​Learning new skills – for example, improving writing skills or use of analytical skills.​Pattern recognition and data analysis.Natural language understanding and generation, which is ideal for conversation, content creation, and summarisation.​In addition, 150 people across the department are piloting Microsoft 365 Copilot, which leverages AI to automate and accelerate tasks in Microsoft Products. This work included people from the ESFA. The department is tracking the benefits of this pilot, which currently include:​Increased productivity.​Less time in meetings.​Ability to search and analyse data more effectively.​Less repetitive tasks.​Increased efficiency in drafting.​Ability to be more creative.​User satisfaction.​Since summer 2023, the department has created a secure Microsoft Azure Open AI sandbox environment. The ESFA has also utilised this facility. This allows limited groups of users to build and test AI models based on specific uses cases, in a safe and secure environment. Use cases including those from the ESFA are approved by a technology-led steering group, and this group will ultimately decide on which applications could potentially be moved into production for use more broadly across the organisation.The department draws on a range of resources, published on GOV.UK, to inform our AI usage. For example, the Generative AI Framework, the Ethics, Transparency and Accountability Framework, the Data Ethics Framework, the AI Opportunities Action Plan and the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard. ​The department has also had access to the Central Digital and Data Office, based in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, for expert advice.

For what purposes National Savings and Investments has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

NS&I is currently making use of artificial intelligence (AI) across its business.NS&I has used AI in the last 12 months for its customer service chatbot, a tool used by NS&I customers to obtain answers to product and service queries that they may have. NS&I has also used AI for a digital voice assistant tool for its telephone serviceIn addition, NS&I has been piloting the use of the Government Communications Service generative AI tool called ‘Assist’, developed to support people working across government in communications roles. NS&I has also used AI to support its coding activities, researching publicly available economic data, and there is an AI component in the wider ongoing work by its operational partners to modernise NS&I's service delivery to customersFurther details about NS&I’s chatbot service will be published in due course online, as part of the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard.

For what purposes the Pension Protection Fund has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

The PPF has used AI over the past 12 months as a support tool to boost productivity and enable faster decision making. The PPF has put restrictions in place to control the use of AI, such as only using tools that don’t hold or store data. It continues to look at AI capabilities and what is appropriate and proportionate for the organisation. The PPF has drafted an AI acceptable use standard which aligns to the NCSC guidelines for secure AI system development.

For what purposes Ofsted has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

This is a matter for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver. I have asked him to write to the right hon. Member for South Holland and the Deepings directly and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

For what purposes the UK Atomic Energy Authority has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) participates in the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration (RAICo) to accelerate deployment of robotics and AI in fusion engineering and nuclear decommissioning. Furthermore, to support the use of AI in fusion research, the first of the UK’s AI Growth Zones is proposed to be located at the headquarters of the UKAEA in Culham, Oxfordshire. AI will be critical in further developing fusion technology by processing complex calculations that will accelerate the R&D that is needed to make fusion a reality.

For what purposes the NHS Business Services Authority has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) has identified opportunities for the utilisation of AI tools and services and has categorised those into three areas of opportunity: personal efficiency and productivity; applying Generative AI (GenAI) at a professional level; and GenAI at an organisational or service level.The NHSBSA has therefore used AI in a number of proof of concept pieces over the past 12 months to test its fit for purposefulness in these environments. These include drafting meeting minutes, customer insights and data extraction, job specifications, supporting coding, and chatbot development. The NHSBSA is in enabling discussions with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to work in step with other departmental Arm’s Length Bodies in GenAI development in health and social care, and can draw on a range of resources, published on the GOV.UK website, to inform AI usage.

For what purposes the Vehicle Certification Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) is trialling Microsoft 365 Copilot to support its activities across Microsoft productivity tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams). No other AI or machine learning has taken place.

For what purposes Active Travel England has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

Active Travel England (ATE) currently does not use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for any formal decision making. ATE uses some AI tools to summarize large sets of publicly available information and is exploring the use of AI to support administrative tasks relating to case management. ATE does use machine learning and advanced data science techniques in its analytical work, but these techniques lie outside of the commonly accepted definition of AI.

Food and Rural Affairs, for what purposes the Animal and Plant Health Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country. In the last 12 months, APHA have participated in a cross-government trial of Microsoft Co-pilot. The trial involved a small number of APHA staff using Microsoft Co Pilot to test functionality and identify opportunities for improving how services are delivered. Participants were from the project delivery profession and used the co-pilot software to summarise meeting actions, transcribe key points, and to develop presentations. The insights from these trials are being collated across Defra and are informing future years’ business planning conversations.

What recent assessment has he made of the adequacy of NHS support for people with liver disease in Lincolnshire.

The commissioning of services for liver disease is the responsibility of integrated care systems. Integrated care systems are responsible for decisions on commissioning health services and reviewing those services to ensure they best meet the needs of their local population.NHS England has a Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Clinical Reference Group which provides clinical advice to NHS England in support of the commissioning of specialised services. By working in partnership with key stakeholders, the Clinical Reference Group helps drive improvements in the quality, equity, experience, efficiency, and outcomes of specialised services. The Clinical Reference Group is currently reviewing its service specification in relation to liver and pancreatic care, which is scheduled for completion before the end of the current financial year.In Lincolnshire, the United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has a gastroenterology department that manages support and services for people with chronic liver disease, with tertiary care services for Nottingham, for non-transplant services, and Cambridge, for liver transplantation. The United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has been part of the Nottingham Operational Delivery Network since 2015 and provides a team of specialist nurses and treatment co-ordinators to work in partnership with community agencies, with the object of eradicating hepatitis C. Hepatology services at the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust are based at Peterborough City Hospital and receive patients from Lincolnshire areas, with referrals aligned with the tertiary referral centre.The North-West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust is seeing an increased demand for services for liver disease. The hepatology service has recently appointed two additional consultant hepatologists to improve patient experience and support, as well as the timeliness of outpatient appointments.Liver disease is a broad term for several conditions affecting the liver and pancreas, but the most prevalent cause of liver-related ill health and death is alcohol-related liver disease. In 2024/25 the Department invested an additional £3,620,918 in alcohol and drug treatment and recovery systems in Lincolnshire.

For what purposes the Insolvency Service has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country. The Insolvency Service has used AI for three Proof of Concepts of internal chatbots which utilise a Large Language Model. It is working with the Cabinet Office to publish Algorithmic Transparency Reporting Standards (ATRS) on two of its services. These relate to our Director Conduct Reporting Service and our Redundancy Payments Service Calculation Engine.

For what purposes the Health Research Authority has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.In line with the Government's commitment to modernising AI usage across public services, the Health Research Authority (HRA) is carefully considering how to integrate AI safely and securely within its organisation.AI deployment at the HRA remains in its early stages. Currently, AI is not permitted for writing official communications, minute-taking, or analysing personal data. However, to support responsible AI adoption, the HRA is exploring a trial of Microsoft 365 Copilot to help staff make better use of AI while maintaining rigorous ethical and regulatory standards.The HRA can draw on a range of resources, published on the GOV.UK website, to inform AI usage, for example the Generative AI Framework, the Ethics, Transparency and Accountability Framework, the Data Ethics Framework, the AI Opportunities Action Plan, and the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard. The HRA also has access to the Government Digital Service, part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, for expert advice.

For what purposes the Vehicle Certification Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) is trialling Microsoft 365 Copilot to support its activities across Microsoft productivity tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams). No other AI or machine learning has taken place.

Innovation and Technology, for what purposes the Intellectual Property Office has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

Artificial Intelligence is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart economic growth and transform how we deliver public services.The Intellectual Property Office has developed AI tools that improve its services and assist its customers. These include a new public facing search tool that performs key word searching assisting patent prior art searches as well as a tool that identifies similar existing trade marks to inform the customer prior to their application.Tools have also been created to improve the IPOs operational function and reduce administrative tasks.

For what purposes the Government Internal Audit Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

The Government Internal Audit Agency has made advancements with the development of three innovative AI-powered engines: the Writing Engine, Risk Engine, and Insights Engine. These engines have been utilised to draft audit reports, identify and express potential risks, and analyse document collections to perceive themes within the collection. The systems have been crucial in significantly reducing the time spent on planning and researching audit activities and writing reports. The Writing Engine has reduced the time taken to produce a first draft from two days to 20 seconds.

How many schools in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire have been identified as stuck schools.

In the ’School accountability reform – school profiles improvement and intervention’ consultation, the department defined ’stuck school’ as a school that was graded ‘requires improvement’ or equivalent at its most recent Ofsted inspection and was also graded below ‘good’ at its previous inspection.For this purpose, we have considered a sub-judgement of ‘requires improvement’ for leadership and management and/or quality of education for a school inspected in 2024/25 academic year as equivalent to a previous single headline grade of ‘requires improvement’.Based on the latest published Ofsted inspection data, there were 4 stuck schools in the South Holland and the Deepings constituency and 18 stuck schools in Lincolnshire by the end of December 2024.