Oral Answers to Questions

Alan Mak Excerpts

Thursday 1st November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Leo Docherty (Aldershot) (Con)]

9. What recent assessment he has made of the contribution of the digital sector to the UK economy.

[Alan Mak (Havant) (Con)]

11. What recent assessment he has made of the contribution of the digital sector to the UK economy.

[The Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries (Margot James)]

The UK’s digital sector is a global powerhouse, and the most recent official statistics show that the sector has contributed over £116 billion to the UK economy and is growing faster than the average for the rest of the economy by two and a half times. From 2015 to 2016, the digital sector’s contribution increased by 5.8%.

[Margot James]

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. Indeed, I visited UKCloud a few months ago and was extremely impressed by not just its fast growth but its innovation. The UK cloud sector is a strongly performing part of the overall digital sector. Earlier this year I spoke at the UK cloud awards and was very impressed by the success, innovation and growth potential of the cloud sector.

[Alan Mak]

Govtech is a growing part of the digital economy and it can help to boost public sector productivity. What steps can the Department take to help entrepreneurs and start-ups in this important tech sector?

Oral Answers to Questions

Alan Mak Excerpts

Thursday 21st June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Margot James]

I am a great admirer of the Ricoh stadium, although I am not sure it would qualify as a small music venue. Coventry benefits, of course, from being the city of culture in 2022, and I am sure that that will galvanise a huge amount of effort in support of what the hon. Gentleman requires.

[Alan Mak (Havant) (Con)]

8. What steps his Department is taking to support the artificial intelligence sector throughout the UK.

[The Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries (Margot James)]

The UK has a world-class ecosystem for AI, and the Government are determined to maintain our position at the forefront of those technologies. That is why we published a sector deal in April, bringing together Government, industry and academia to provide almost £1 billion of investment to support growth in that sector.

[Alan Mak]

The growing use of AI and big data can help Britain to lead the fourth industrial revolution. What steps is my hon. Friend taking to ensure that the benefits of those technologies are felt by people, communities and businesses across the entire country?

[Margot James]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on all his work in this area. We have a full agenda following the publication of the sector deal, which will ensure that the benefits of AI are effected across the country. Tech Nation now has an AI programme that will support ecosystems across the country.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Solicitor General]

Yes, I will.

[Alan Mak (Havant) (Con)]

5. What the Government’s policy is on the role of international law in relation to cyber-space.

[Helen Whately (Faversham and Mid Kent) (Con)]

7. What the Government’s policy is on the role of international law in relation to cyber-space.

[The Attorney General (Jeremy Wright)]

Cyber-space is an integral part of the rules-based international order, and there must be boundaries of acceptable state behaviour in cyber-space, just as there are everywhere else. In my speech on this subject at Chatham House on 23 May, I underlined that hostile actors cannot take action by cyber means without consequence, both in peacetime and in times of conflict.

[Alan Mak]

Nation states can mount cyber-attacks under the cover of non-state actors to escape censure. Will my right hon. and learned Friend confirm that, if that happens, they should still be censured and subject to international law?

Oral Answers to Questions

Alan Mak Excerpts

Thursday 22nd March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Matt Hancock]

Of course they were comprehensive. If the hon. Gentleman’s accusations of perjury, which he is alleging today, are true, then we have rules in place to deal with them. If there is evidence of criminal wrongdoing, it should be brought forward, and that is the proper way to proceed.

[Alan Mak (Havant) (Con)]

T4. Britain is well placed to lead the fourth industrial revolution. A new research centre, such as the one proposed by the World Economic Forum, would help us to stay ahead of the curve. Will my right hon. Friend consider its proposal and meet me to discuss it further?

[Matt Hancock]

I would be delighted to meet my hon. Friend on that question. He has done so much to promote the importance of the fourth industrial revolution and artificial intelligence. Indeed, I am on the board of a World Economic Forum body, which is looking into how we can make the most of this, and I look forward to engaging with him on it.