Oral Answers to Questions

Chi Onwurah Excerpts

Thursday 26th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call Dame Chi Onwurah to ask the final topical question.

[Dame Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West) (Lab)]

Northern industries built this nation, but the previous Government did not care about our industrial heritage, which is one reason why Newcastle’s iconic swing bridge no longer swings. On her recent visit, the Minister for Heritage encouraged us to take the steps necessary to safeguard its future, but what help can the Secretary of State provide to support the funding necessary to get the swing bridge swinging?

[Ian Murray]

I commend my hon. Friend’s campaign for Newcastle’s swing bridge in its 150th anniversary year. I know the Minister for Heritage, who sits in the other place, has been dealing closely with her on those issues. I understand that Newcastle city council is leading a feasibility study on returning the bridge to full operation, which should help us to understand if and how this magnificent grade II listed building and scheduled monument can be brought back to life. I share my hon. Friend’s aspiration to allow the bridge to swing.

--- Later in debate ---

The hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, was asked—

[Dame Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West) (Lab)]

5. What steps the Commission is taking to help improve Members’ productivity through technology.

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)]

Members and their teams should be supported to manage and address the increasing volume and complexity of work being placed on us all. Managing email inboxes is a huge task, as we all know. The Parliamentary Digital Service has been working with Members to understand how we can harness technology to help us filter, prioritise and manage our correspondence and casework. I know that the Parliamentary Digital Service is happy to further support the hon. Lady in that work.

[Dame Chi Onwurah]

I thank the hon. Member for that answer. I believe that Parliament can—indeed must—use AI to improve our productivity, but it must be used securely, ethically, effectively and in the public interest. A poll by Brunel University has said that 80% of the public reject the idea of AI assisting parliamentarians or replacing our judgment. What progress has been made on shaping Copilot—the only AI that we are allowed to use—to reflect Parliament’s priorities, rather than Microsoft’s? I am thinking specifically about inbox management, which I have raised and the hon. Member has mentioned.

[Nick Smith]

The hon. Member is right to keep on raising this issue. The foundation of the guidance to Members on the use of AI is that there needs to be a human in the loop. The Parliamentary Digital Service is in ongoing discussions with Microsoft to shape the use of Copilot to meet Members’ needs. Our digital service must continue looking at the potential applications of AI to support all our work, so that either Copilot or another solution from elsewhere can be tested for all our benefit.

If the hon. Member wishes, she can join our committee the next time we meet the PDS management team to look at how we can better support Members.