Written questions by Narayan.

Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Data (Use and Access) Bill on the (a) development and (b) deployment of artificial intelligence models in the UK.

Compliance, productivity and familiarisation costs savings of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning reforms in the Data (Use and Access) Bill have been considered and can be found in the indirect benefits and costs sections of the impact assessment (IA). The ethical assessment can also be found in the impact on individuals section.The assessment of the effect on different organisations by size and sector can be found in the small and micro business assessment section of the IA. here (particularly, Table 14, 24, 25, 26 & 34).

Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the National Data Library on AI model training; and what steps he is taking to ensure that data access frameworks (a) enable innovation and (b) safeguard privacy.

The NDL will unlock the value of public data assets. It will provide simple, secure and ethical access to our key public data assets for researchers, policy makers and business – including those at the frontier of AI development – and make it easier to find, discover and make connections across different datasets.Where data sharing involves personal data, it must comply with the UK’s data protection legislation. This will equally apply to the National Data Library.We will set out further details on the National Data Library shortly.

Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) energy and (b) grid access on the deployment of high-performance compute infrastructure.

The Government recognises the importance of continued innovation and improvements in the efficiency of compute infrastructure.AI Growth Zones will help shift energy demand to areas with more capacity, reducing pressure on congested parts of the grid. DSIT are working closely with DESNZ and the National Energy System Operator to align AI energy demand with future energy planning and ensure long-term sustainability. The Government is working to reform the National Grid connections process, making it easier for data centres to secure a timely grid connection.Through the AI Energy Council, we will be exploring bold clean energy solutions, from next-generation renewables to small modular reactors, to ensure our AI ambitions align with the UK’s net zero goals.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to coordinate cross-Government compute-related (a) planning and (b) infrastructure.

The AI Opportunities Action Plan sets out how the UK can lay the foundations for AI growth, by building the cutting-edge compute infrastructure needed to lead in AI development and deployment. To deliver this commitment, we are working closely across government, including on the creation of AI Growth Zones.With MHCLG we have updated the National Planning Policy Framework to make it easier to build data infrastructure.MHCLG will be introducing legislation this year to enable larger data centres to be directed into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects consenting regime on request. As part of this work, DSIT will be producing a National Policy Statement (NPS) on data infrastructure to guide future planning decisions.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the timely delivery of the national Compute Strategy; and whether she plans to publish an updated timeline ahead of Spring 2025.

Expanding the UK’s compute capability is essential for the development and adoption of AI, scientific research, and improving public services. DSIT and UKRI are taking forward the development of the AI Research Resource, a network of supercomputers, currently consisting of Isambard-AI, in Bristol, and Dawn, in Cambridge, which will be fully operational by the summer. When this capacity is live, it will increase the UK’s existing public compute capacity by thirty times.In response to the AI Opportunities Action Plan, we have also committed to expand the AI Research Resource (AIRR) by a further 20 times by 2030, and to publish a long-term compute strategy.

Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to establish AI Growth Zones close to major research centres; and what role compute infrastructure will play in their design.

Universities and research institutions are critical to the UK’s vision for AI. To build upon our strong R&D base and to ensure we’re at the forefront of AI innovation, AI Growth Zones will help secure the UK’s position as a global leader in AI, attracting significant investment and ensuring long-term economic growth.In February, local authorities and industry, were invited to come forward with potential sites suitable for hosting AI infrastructure as an early expression of interest, and hundreds of responses were received. Further updates will be provided in due course.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) universities and (b) research institutions to host compute infrastructure.

Expanding the UK’s compute capability is essential for the development and adoption of AI, scientific research, and improving public services. DSIT and UKRI are taking forward the development of the AI Research Resource, a network of supercomputers, currently consisting of Isambard-AI, in Bristol, and Dawn, in Cambridge, which will be fully operational by the summer. When this capacity is live, it will increase the UK’s existing public compute capacity by thirty times.In response to the AI Opportunities Action Plan, we have also committed to expand the AI Research Resource (AIRR) by a further 20 times by 2030, and to publish a long-term compute strategy.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the respective compute requirements for AI training and inference; and whether he plans to reflect this distinction in future infrastructure planning.

In response to the AI Opportunities Action Plan, DSIT is currently developing a long-term compute strategy. At the same time, DSIT and UKRI are taking forward the development of the AI Research Resource, a network of supercomputers, currently consisting of Isambard-AI, in Bristol, and Dawn, in Cambridge, which will increase the UK’s existing public compute capacity by thirty times.The Government has also committed to expanding the AIRR a further 20 times by 2030 to ensure that the UK has the AI infrastructure and compute capacity it needs to deliver new scientific innovations and discoveries that will drive productivity and growth throughout the economy. This expansion, and the long-term compute strategy – will reflect the evolving demands for training and inference.

Innovation and Technology, what plans he has to provide compute access to early-stage AI startups.

The Government is committed to removing barriers to growth for AI startups and ensuring that they have access to resources and expertise needed to develop and scale.Earlier this year, DSIT opened phase 1 of the AI Research Resource for early access to SMEs and startups to drive forward new AI-enabled innovations.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions his Department has had with the Welsh Government on the establishment of an AI Growth Zone in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The UK Government recognises the critical role of AI infrastructure in supporting advanced AI technologies. The AI Opportunities Action Plan outlines how the UK can build the cutting-edge compute infrastructure needed to lead in AI development and deployment, securing long-term economic growth and staying at the forefront of AI innovation. We are partnering with local and regional authorities and Devolved Governments to establish AI Growth Zones (AIGZs), ensuring substantial regional and national benefits, such as upskilling and employment opportunities, are felt across the country. In February, Devolved Governments and local authorities, along with industry, were invited to come forward with potential sites suitable for hosting AI infrastructure as an early expression of interest. DSIT regularly engages with the Welsh Government on a range of issues and we are delighted by the significant interest in AIGZs from across the UK. We will open the formal selection process in early spring.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to improve the UK's ability to (a) attract and (b) retain highly skilled professionals in the (a) AI and (b) life sciences sectors.

The AI Opportunities Action Plan sets out the importance of creating a strong talent pipeline and addressing wider skills demands. We are focusing on collaborating with universities to increase AI courses, expanding educational pathways, and establishing a prestigious AI talent scholarship. The Life Sciences sector plan, to be published later this year, will set out HMG support for Life Sciences skills. The Office for Life Sciences is working with stakeholder across the UK as well as Skills England – to inform this. The sector already benefits from targeted support via RESILIENCE, the Medicines Manufacturing Centre of Excellence.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to support (a) AI development and (b) machine learning skills in the workforce.

Lifelong learning and development are key to ensuring everyone can prosper in an increasingly technology-driven world. The AI Opportunities Action Plan outlines the steps the UK will take to build a strong, diverse talent pipeline, realising AI benefits across the economy. Once established, Skills England will work with government, the Industrial Skills Council, businesses, training partners, and unions, to assess AI skills needs and map pathways to address them.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to (a) help increase the UK's international role in AI innovation and (b) protect creative industries from the potential impacts of AI.

We are already a global leader in AI. We are the third-largest AI market in the world, and we are home to world-renowned AI companies. We are committed to building a thriving AI ecosystem that can scale and win globally. As outlined in the AI Opportunities Action Plan launched by the Prime Minister earlier this year, we will appoint AI sector champions in key industries, including the creative industries, to explore and encourage AI innovation.The Government published a consultation on copyright and AI in December 2024, seeking views on a package of measures, which include a requirement for AI model developers to be more transparent about how they obtain their training material.We welcome the significant engagement from across the creative and AI sectors on this important consultation and are carefully reviewing all responses to ensure any proposals taken forward properly support both – delivering a solution which will allow them to thrive.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to improve the commercialisation of (a) university research and (b) spinouts in the tech sector.

Support for university commercialisation is at its highest level ever. The Higher Education Innovation Fund, which supports knowledge exchange between universities and the wider world, is set at £280 million for the 2024-25 academic year. To support spinouts, the Government is implementing the recommendations of the Independent Review of University Spin-outs. 52 universities have signed up to the review’s recommendations on improving licensing and equity stakes, including taking 10% or less equity for software spin-outs. UKRI has launched a £40m proof-of-concept fund to support researchers develop ideas ahead of spinning out. Over the last 2 years, Innovate UK has awarded £5.2bn funding to more than 7000 businesses, of which 86% were SMEs.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure that the AI Opportunities Action Plan (a) creates high-quality jobs and (b) enhances public services in (i) Vale of Glamorgan constituency and (ii) other rural areas.

The Action Plan sets out how we will achieve our AI ambitions by laying the foundations for AI growth, driving adoption and encouraging country wide growth.The opportunities of AI are for the whole of the UK. We will partner with devolved administrations, regional and local authorities on AI Growth Zones (AIGZs).On Skills, the Plan sets out the essential role that equipping our workforce with the right skills will play in supporting the growth of the UK’s AI sector.Regarding public sector adoption, the Plan outlines how AI will improve public services and drive growth across the economy.