G20 Summit 2027: Objectives

Debate between Baroness Twycross and Lord Alton of Liverpool

Thursday 17th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I am pleased to report that the noble Lord, Lord Hanson, is leading a summit on this issue. I am happy to write to the noble Lord with further details.

[Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB)]

My Lords, can the Minister tell us what priority will be given during the G20 summit to the nearly 120 million people who are displaced in the world today, and in particular whether the war in Sudan, which has led to another 12 million displaced people, will be discussed?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The Government are doing as much as they can on the issue that the noble Lord raises. It has been a priority of this Government since we came into office.

AI: Human Extinction

Debate between Baroness Twycross and Lord Alton of Liverpool

Tuesday 15th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The noble Baroness makes a range of important points. I want to reassure your Lordships’ House that the Government treat AI risks with extreme seriousness. Like others, we are pleased that some of the sector is talking about the risks, because only by talking about them are we able to work through solutions. As a responsible leader in AI security, we monitor a full range of risks that could be posed by frontier AI. I note that the noble Baroness made a number of different points and questions. I am very happy to meet her to talk through where we think we might go with this policy area.

[Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB)]

My Lords, in light of the existential threats referred to by the noble Baroness, Lady Teather, and having chaired the inquiry launched by the Joint Committee on Human Rights into AI and human rights, with 10 oral sessions, including important evidence from Minister Kanishka Narayan, may I ask the Minister whether she will urgently read this 94-page report, published yesterday and now available in the Printed Paper Office? Having particular regard to its 59 recommendations and conclusions on the inadequacy of existing law and regulations, will she ensure a swift response and that we will have the opportunity to debate this report fully in your Lordships’ House?

Artificial Intelligence: News Media

Debate between Baroness Twycross and Lord Alton of Liverpool

Monday 7th July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

We want to get this right and for AI to work for everyone. All our work is around protecting existing rights for creators and the press and ensuring that AI creates new revenue streams for them. We are carefully reviewing all the responses to our consultation to ensure that any proposals taken forward properly support both the AI and creative sectors, including the media.

[Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB)]

Will the Minister undertake to view the opening session of the new inquiry by the Joint Committee on Human Rights, held last Wednesday, into human rights and artificial intelligence? In particular, will she look at the evidence of Professor David Leslie, the director of the Alan Turing Institute, who was very clear that this cannot be dealt with unless there is transnational co-operation? He drew attention to the Council of Europe document, published last September, to which the United Kingdom is a signatory but has not yet ratified. Can the Minister tell us when we will do so?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I will need to get back to the noble Lord on the second point. On the first point, I am more than happy to watch the session to which he refers. As noble Lords are aware, we have a number of late sitting days, so I will make sure I use at least one of the evenings to watch what sounds like a really interesting evidence session.

Procurement Act 2023

Debate between Baroness Twycross and Lord Alton of Liverpool

Tuesday 15th October 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

In passing the Health and Care Act 2022, Parliament recognised that healthcare services delivered to NHS patients and service users, such as 999 emergency ambulance services and cancer-screening services, had particular issues and challenges which necessitated special procurement measures. Consequently, as the noble Baroness made clear, the Procurement Act does not include special provisions for those healthcare services.

[Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB)]

My Lords, during the proceedings on the Procurement Act, the noble Baroness will recall that the House was united in not wishing to see goods made in Xinjiang by slave labour, particularly Uighur Muslims, being brought by public policy into our own supply chains. Can the Minister tell us what this Government are doing to ensure we maintain a prohibition on goods that have been made by Uighur slave labour?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

Abhorrent practices such as these have absolutely no place in public supply chains. The Procurement Act strengthens the rules around excluding suppliers due to serious misconduct anywhere in their operations, including the supply chain.