Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Abolition

Lord Ranger of Northwood Excerpts

Wednesday 14th October 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

We absolutely have a focus on science and technology, which is why the Minister for AI has a seat at the Cabinet table. I agree with the noble Lord that the UK stands at a critical juncture, where unprecedented global changes mean that we need to secure our position in relation to these areas, but we cannot see science and technology as an isolated issue that is limited to one department; it is a fundamental priority that cuts across the whole of government and is crucial to the UK’s future economic prosperity.

[Lord Ranger of Northwood (Con)]

My Lords, the Government were doing reasonably well through DSIT in helping a booming industry in UK AI find its way through the plethora of initiatives and policies, including the AI growth zones, the AI opportunity action plan and sovereign AI. As well as for civil servants, the removal of DSIT has caused confusion in industry, and I declare my interest as a co-founder of the Business AI Alliance and an adviser to a number of AI businesses. All these businesses have said the same thing to me: where do they go now? Where are all these policy areas sitting? How can they navigate their way as they try to bring that key element of growth to the UK economy?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

As I said in my initial response to the noble Lord, Lord Empey, we have a Minister for AI at the Cabinet table. We also have a new and renewed BIST, which has been created to signify the UK’s global leadership in innovation and maximise the growth potential that can be contributed to the UK economy by emerging strategic sectors. This is part of our reindustrialisation agenda. BIST is now responsible for emerging and frontier technologies, and I am confident that this will be part of its key work going forward.