Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2024 on Government Departments: Artificial Intelligence, whether the detailed policy for the Algorithmic transparency recording standard has been agreed across all departments; and whether he has a planned timeline for compliance.
Answered by Saqib Bhatti - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We are implementing the mandatory rollout of the ATRS in phases, with the current, first phase focusing on the 16 largest ministerial departments, plus HMRC.
The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and the Central Digital and Data Office are working with these departments to map their in-scope algorithmic tools and draft their first ATRS records accordingly. These departments have now all reviewed a draft version of the scope and exemptions policy. We expect to circulate a finalised version of the policy by the end of May.
Regarding timelines for the wider rollout, expect these Phase One departments to publish their first ATRS records by the end of July. Departments finding no tools in scope will be required to submit a nil return. This will be followed by the next phase which involves extending the mandatory rollout to the remaining ministerial departments, and relevant arm’s-length bodies, from July onwards which the Central Digital and Data Office will monitor.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2024 to Question 22348 on Public Expenditure, what his planned timetable is for publishing the response to David Willetts’ report.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
DSIT published the response to Lord Willetts’ independent review of the DSIT business case and approvals process on 1 May on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reforming-the-dsit-business-case-process
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the AI Safety Institute plans to carry out testing on the societal impacts of AI on elections.
Answered by Saqib Bhatti - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The AI Safety Institute has responsibility for developing and conducting evaluations on advanced AI systems, including assessing potentially harmful capabilities. As part of this, it will evaluate the direct impact of advanced AI systems on individuals and society - including how people are affected by interacting with these systems and the ways AI systems are being used in both private and professional contexts. Part of this work will explore the impacts of frontier AI on democracy, including elections. The Institute is collaborating on this with key partners in the UK ecosystem – initially with the Alan Turing Institute.
The Government takes the integrity and security of our democratic processes very seriously and is working to ensure we are ready to respond to the full range of threats to our democratic processes, including through the Defending Democracy Taskforce.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2024 to Question 24088 on Semiconductors: Infrastructure, if she will respond to the recommendations of the UK Semiconductor Infrastructure Initiative feasibility study, published in 2023; and if will publish that response.
Answered by Saqib Bhatti - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK has a thriving R&D innovation semiconductor ecosystem and the Government’s National Semiconductor Strategy sets out our ambitious vision for the UK’s sector.
The Government has commissioned the UK Semiconductor Infrastructure Initiative feasibility study to increase access for companies to the research infrastructure they need to support commercialisation.
The feasibility study was recently completed, and the Government is considering its analysis.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled National semiconductor strategy, CP 838, published on 19 May 2023, what progress she has made on the UK Semiconductor Infrastructure Initiative.
Answered by Saqib Bhatti - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We have made substantial progress since the launch of the National Semiconductor Strategy last year. We are on track to exceed our initial £200 million investment commitment for this spending review period, launched a semiconductor incubator Programme, ChipStart UK, and made ambitious agreements with partner countries.
The UK Semiconductor Infrastructure Initiative aims to make targeted intervention to ensure that our infrastructure environment boosts UK commercial innovation for start-ups/SMEs. This government is committed to delivering on its vision with its sector in collaboration with academia and industry, and we continue to engage extensively.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Game-changing exascale computer planned for Edinburgh, published on 9 October 2023, what progress she has made on the hosting of a new national exascale facility in Edinburgh.
Answered by Saqib Bhatti - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Compute is a priority for this government, underpinning our ambitions for AI, science and technology and R&D. Following the October announcement that Exascale will be hosted in Edinburgh, we are taking forward market engagement to inform the delivery approach for this programme. More details will follow in due course.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to respond to the recommendations of the independent report entitled Reforming the DSIT business case process, published by her Department on 9 February 2024.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government welcomes David Willetts’ report and is considering the recommendations, including options for implementation. We are planning to publish a response before the end of April.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2024 to Question 18536 on UK Research and Innovation: Social Media, whether she has authorised the targeted collection of the views of academics on UKRI boards.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
No. Due diligence is sometimes carried out by officials, at specific times, for example appointments made directly by DSIT, consistent with standard cross-government approaches.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to Q1 of the oral evidence given to the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee on 12 March 2024, whether her Department (a) monitors and (b) records political statements made on social media by UKRI board members.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
No. Due diligence is sometimes carried out by officials, at specific times, for example appointments made directly by DSIT, consistent with standard cross-government approaches.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2024 to Question 17194 on Artificial Intelligence: Migrant Workers, when the new dedicated visa scheme will be operational.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The new Future Technology Research & Innovation (Government Authorised Exchange) visa scheme is expected to go live on 4 April 2024, which the Home Office announced in their Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules laid in Parliament on 14 March. This visa scheme will allow sponsored researchers and interns to come to the UK to work in eligible organisation in the areas of the Government’s five critical technologies (AI, engineering biology, future telecommunications, semiconductors, and quantum technologies).