Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which public procurement frameworks allow (1) the NHS and, (2) the Ministry of Defence, to support the development and adoption of AI technologies produced by UK-based companies.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has not made a formal assessment to date of the extent to which public procurement frameworks allow the NHS or the Ministry of Defence to support the development and adoption of UK produced AI.
However, the Government is actively looking at this through a cross government ministerial working group bringing together DSIT, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Defence, which is exploring how government works with innovative UK companies, including in the AI sector. Alongside this, the Government’s wider approach is to use public procurement to make the public sector a first customer for innovative technologies and a launchpad for scale ups, supported by Cabinet Office led social value reforms and work through the Commercial Innovation Hub.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of Revolt being granted a banking licence on regulation and competitiveness in the fintech sector.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Bank authorisations are a matter for the independent Prudential Regulation Authority.
As set out in the Government’s Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, the UK aims to be the world’s most technologically advanced global financial centre, and to remain a leading jurisdiction for Fintech firms to start up, scale and list.
The Strategy set out a comprehensive package of reforms to maintain the UK’s global leadership in Fintech. This includes creating a competitive regulatory environment by working with UK regulators to make it quicker and easier for new firms to achieve regulatory authorisation.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential role of large language models in supporting Government departments to respond to enquiries from members of the public.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
His Majesty’s Government continues to take a careful and evidence led approach to exploring the potential role of large language models in supporting departments to respond to enquiries from members of the public.
I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave to question HL15270 on 18 March 2026.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the integration of voice-activated AI systems in consumer vehicles; and what steps they are taking to ensure that regulatory frameworks relating to safety, data protection and consumer protection are effective.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department has not made a specific assessment of integration of voice-activated Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems in consumer vehicles. Applicable legislation concerning safety, data protection and consumer protection still applies irrespective of the use of AI. The Department recently bolstered this by mandating internationally recognised requirements for vehicle cyber security that it helped develop. It also continues to work internationally to understand the risks from AI in automotive applications and how they could be managed or mitigated.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact and role of accelerator and innovation programmes that support the growth of early-stage financial technology firms.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
As set out in the Government’s Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, the UK aims to be the world’s most technologically advanced global financial centre, and to remain a leading jurisdiction for Fintech firms to start up, scale and list.
The Strategy set out a comprehensive package of reforms to maintain the UK’s global leadership in Fintech. This includes creating a competitive regulatory environment by making it quicker and easier for new firms to achieve regulatory authorisation, as well as welcoming the City of London Corporation and the British Business Bank facilitating greater access to finance. The Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority have launched a joint Scale-Up Unit to enhance engagement with fast-growing innovative firms.
Research England is also supporting activity in FinTech through the INFINITY programme, a partnership led by the University of Nottingham and the University of Birmingham to help researchers explore commercial opportunities in financial technology. There has been good engagement so far, with over 100 research projects developing their business potential and a number of ventures now progressing towards market.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks associated with the expansion of buy-now-pay-later lending through digital wallets and online marketplaces; and how the new regulatory framework will ensure effective affordability checks and consumer protection.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is aware that Buy‑Now, Pay‑Later (BNPL) products have become a standard feature of digital wallets and online marketplaces, allowing consumers to defer payment at the point of sale. While these products can be a convenient way to help spread the cost of purchases, the lack of regulation has left some consumers exposed to harm, particularly through unaffordable borrowing.
To address this, in July 2025 Parliament passed legislation to bring BNPL products within Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulation. The new rules will take effect this July, with the FCA having confirmed the final regulatory requirements in February.
Under the new regulatory regime, BNPL firms will be required to carry out proportionate but robust affordability assessments before lending, informed by appropriate checks on consumers’ financial circumstances and existing borrowing commitments. Firms will also be required to provide clear, timely and prominent information on repayment terms, the consequences of missed payments, and what rights consumers have, enabling them to make informed decisions. In addition, consumers will gain access to established protections for credit users, including the Financial Ombudsman Service and section 75 rights under the Consumer Credit Act. Together, these measures will support the continued use of BNPL products while ensuring appropriate consumer safeguards are in place.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) support access to computing and AI education for schoolchildren, and (2) address disparities in digital literacy across England.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government has accepted the relevant recommendations of the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review to ensure that young people become more digitally literate through a refreshed computing curriculum, including essential AI content, that builds digital confidence from an early age. We are considering how digital content can be integrated across other subjects to build strong, transferrable digital skills, and will replace the computer science GCSE with a broader qualification reflecting the full computing curriculum.
Work is underway to develop the new curriculum, and the department will conduct a public consultation on the draft programmes of study in summer 2026. To increase the number of pupils who will benefit from the reformed national curriculum, we are legislating so that academies will be required to teach it, alongside maintained schools.
We are continuing to invest in the National Centre for Computing Education to support teachers to teach about these topics with confidence.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of fintech investment platforms on competition, costs and investment choice in the self-invested personal pension market; and what steps they are taking to support innovation in digital pension products while maintaining appropriate regulatory safeguards.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has not made a formal assessment of the impact of Fintech investment platforms on competition, costs and investment choice in the self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) market.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the regulator responsible for the SIPPs market. The FCA regularly reviews their relevant rules and regulations to ensure they are appropriate for the current market context. This includes supporting growth and innovation while maintaining appropriate regulatory safeguards to protect consumers.
As set out in the Government’s Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, the UK aims to be the world’s most technologically advanced global financial centre, and to remain a leading jurisdiction for Fintech firms to start up, scale and list.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the use of artificial intelligence tools by consumers when making mortgage and other financial product decisions, and (2) the implications of that use for consumer protection.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The majority of mortgage loans are intermediated. Mortgage brokers are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and must comply with FCA Rules including the Consumer Duty and relevant mortgage conduct rules.
Regulated firms are already required to manage technology-related risks to consumers and financial stability, including those arising from the use of artificial intelligence (AI), under existing FCA rules. These include requirements relating to governance, operational resilience and data use.
The Government believes that the safe adoption of AI by the financial services sector is a major strategic opportunity that will power growth across the economy. As set out by the Chancellor in her Mais lecture, the Government’s ambition is for the UK to be the fastest adopter of AI in the G7, to boost productivity, drive economic growth, and deliver better products for consumers.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the financial sustainability of the workforce in the United Kingdom’s film and television production sector.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK’s creative industries generated £145.8 billion in GVA in 2024 — 5.6% of the economy — with film, TV, radio and photography contributing £23.5 billion. The sector’s growth and global strengths position the UK to lead in film and television production. To realise that ambition, we need a skilled and sustainable workforce. That is why our Sector Plan designates film, TV and video games as a frontier industry, signalling their priority status for future investment and support.
From April 2026, a £75 million Screen Growth Package will support independent UK content, attract inward investment and expand skills development, creating more jobs and greater long‑term stability across the sector. The Sector Plan also boosts access to finance through the British Business Bank, expanded debt and equity options, and tailored support for producers.
We are raising standards across the sector by acting on the Good Work Review, establishing the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority and supporting the BFI’s £1.5 million WorkWise for Screen programme. Freelancers will have a stronger voice through a new Creative Freelance Champion, while the Employment Rights Act 2025 will tackle late payments, guarantee written contracts and extend health and safety protections.
We are also strengthening the skills and talent pipeline through major investment: expanding the National Film and Television School, scaling up the BFI Film Academy and delivering £725 million through the next phase of the Growth and Skills Levy, including fully funded SME apprenticeships for eligible under‑25s. From April 2026, new short courses in digital, AI and engineering will support Industrial Strategy sectors, complemented by work with DWP and Skills England to ensure training genuinely reflects the needs of creative employers.