Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade

AIGZ sites must be capable of delivering at least 500 MW of power for AI workloads by 2030, offer at least 100 acres of land by 2028, and demonstrate credible plans for delivery and local benefit, amongst other key criteria. Specific grid connection offers and site-level capacity figures are commercially sensitive and are not published by government.

Of the five announced AI Growth Zones, three have relevant planning consents in place with construction underway. We are working to bring the remaining sites to the same position by the end of the year. New AI compute is expected to come online from 2027.

1. Sovereign AI investment decisions are overseen by the British Technology Investments (BTI) Board, pending the establishment of the Sovereign AI Investment Committee. The most recent Board meeting took place in the week commencing 28^th September.

2. Since its launch in April, Sovereign AI has publicly announced seven direct investments into British AI startups: Callosum, Ineffable Intelligence, Isomorphic Labs, CuspAI, Olix, Basecamp Research and, most recently, Augur. Further investments have been approved and will be announced in due course.

3. The Sovereign AI Fund has awarded compute to 22 companies across the UK AI ecosystem with around 6.5 million GPU hours on Isambard-AI allocated to date.

4. The Fund does not deploy private capital directly, but aims to crowd in private capital via follow-on investment into supported companies.

5. At launch in April 2026 the headcount at Sovereign AI was 12. Sovereign AI is currently growing to a projected headcount of c.30 by March 2027. This includes teams covering investments, R&D schemes, policy and operations.

1. Sovereign AI investment decisions are overseen by the British Technology Investments (BTI) Board, pending the establishment of the Sovereign AI Investment Committee. The most recent Board meeting took place in the week commencing 28^th September.

2. Since its launch in April, Sovereign AI has publicly announced seven direct investments into British AI startups: Callosum, Ineffable Intelligence, Isomorphic Labs, CuspAI, Olix, Basecamp Research and, most recently, Augur. Further investments have been approved and will be announced in due course.

3. The Sovereign AI Fund has awarded compute to 22 companies across the UK AI ecosystem with around 6.5 million GPU hours on Isambard-AI allocated to date.

4. The Fund does not deploy private capital directly, but aims to crowd in private capital via follow-on investment into supported companies.

5. At launch in April 2026 the headcount at Sovereign AI was 12. Sovereign AI is currently growing to a projected headcount of c.30 by March 2027. This includes teams covering investments, R&D schemes, policy and operations.

1. Sovereign AI investment decisions are overseen by the British Technology Investments (BTI) Board, pending the establishment of the Sovereign AI Investment Committee. The most recent Board meeting took place in the week commencing 28^th September.

2. Since its launch in April, Sovereign AI has publicly announced seven direct investments into British AI startups: Callosum, Ineffable Intelligence, Isomorphic Labs, CuspAI, Olix, Basecamp Research and, most recently, Augur. Further investments have been approved and will be announced in due course.

3. The Sovereign AI Fund has awarded compute to 22 companies across the UK AI ecosystem with around 6.5 million GPU hours on Isambard-AI allocated to date.

4. The Fund does not deploy private capital directly, but aims to crowd in private capital via follow-on investment into supported companies.

5. At launch in April 2026 the headcount at Sovereign AI was 12. Sovereign AI is currently growing to a projected headcount of c.30 by March 2027. This includes teams covering investments, R&D schemes, policy and operations.

1. Sovereign AI investment decisions are overseen by the British Technology Investments (BTI) Board, pending the establishment of the Sovereign AI Investment Committee. The most recent Board meeting took place in the week commencing 28^th September.

2. Since its launch in April, Sovereign AI has publicly announced seven direct investments into British AI startups: Callosum, Ineffable Intelligence, Isomorphic Labs, CuspAI, Olix, Basecamp Research and, most recently, Augur. Further investments have been approved and will be announced in due course.

3. The Sovereign AI Fund has awarded compute to 22 companies across the UK AI ecosystem with around 6.5 million GPU hours on Isambard-AI allocated to date.

4. The Fund does not deploy private capital directly, but aims to crowd in private capital via follow-on investment into supported companies.

5. At launch in April 2026 the headcount at Sovereign AI was 12. Sovereign AI is currently growing to a projected headcount of c.30 by March 2027. This includes teams covering investments, R&D schemes, policy and operations.

1. Sovereign AI investment decisions are overseen by the British Technology Investments (BTI) Board, pending the establishment of the Sovereign AI Investment Committee. The most recent Board meeting took place in the week commencing 28^th September.

2. Since its launch in April, Sovereign AI has publicly announced seven direct investments into British AI startups: Callosum, Ineffable Intelligence, Isomorphic Labs, CuspAI, Olix, Basecamp Research and, most recently, Augur. Further investments have been approved and will be announced in due course.

3. The Sovereign AI Fund has awarded compute to 22 companies across the UK AI ecosystem with around 6.5 million GPU hours on Isambard-AI allocated to date.

4. The Fund does not deploy private capital directly, but aims to crowd in private capital via follow-on investment into supported companies.

5. At launch in April 2026 the headcount at Sovereign AI was 12. Sovereign AI is currently growing to a projected headcount of c.30 by March 2027. This includes teams covering investments, R&D schemes, policy and operations.

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade is leading the development of the Data Centres National Policy Statement. The National Policy Statement, once published, will explain to prospective developers what is required to apply under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime and set out the policy framework for the relevant Secretary of State to make decisions on applications. We expect to publish the draft National Policy Statement in due course and will launch a public consultation shortly after its publication.

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade is leading the development of the Data Centres National Policy Statement. The National Policy Statement, once published, will explain to prospective developers what is required to apply under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime and set out the policy framework for the relevant Secretary of State to make decisions on applications. We expect to publish the draft National Policy Statement in due course and will launch a public consultation shortly after its publication.

Responsibility for realising AI opportunities is now shared across government, with BIST leading on AI policy, data infrastructure including AI Growth Zones, AI research, innovation, hardware and compute, economy-wide AI adoption and workforce upskilling. DCMS leads on opportunities linked to wider digital infrastructure, delivery of digital and technology skills and public service foundations needed to support AI, such as data and public sector delivery via the Government Digital Service and incubator for AI (i.AI). We have established the new Cabinet Office AI Taskforce to direct the Government’s strategy on AI, including maximising public sector adoption opportunities. Other Government Departments are pursuing AI opportunities within their areas of policy and delivery responsibility.

The Government continues to engage the Holy See regularly both bilaterally and through multilateral fora, including on artificial intelligence. As the Prime Minister said at UNGA, artificial intelligence will be at the heart of the UK’s G20 Presidency next year. The UK is also looking to work with partners towards establishing a single set of global principles and standards on AI. Our focus on international engagement on frontier AI risks is in recognition that any lasting solution will need to be developed and agreed collectively.

The previous £47 billion estimate in the AI Opportunities Action Plan was a UK government calculation based on analysis the IMF estimate released in its World Economic Outlook in April 2024.

The OECD estimates that AI adoption could add 0.4 to 1.3 percentage points to the UK’s annual labour productivity growth over the next decade.

We estimate that this is equivalent to adding between £55-140 billion to UK Gross Value Added in 2030. This estimate is highly uncertain, and BIST will update this analysis as new evidence emerges. The methodology for this estimate is set out here.

The Government has committed £1.3 billion to expand the AI Research Resource (AIRR), providing researchers and innovators with free access to world-class AI compute. The oversubscription ratio and number of awards made for each research call for the period 17 July 2025 to 6 October 2026.

The Government recognises the critical role of data centres in supporting economic growth, innovation, and the UK’s national resilience and sovereignty. We are developing a Data Centre National Policy Statement, which will set out the framework for decisions on projects seeking consent through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime. Critical National Priority status is one of the policy approaches we will consider through this process. Whatever approach is taken, the NPS will reflect both the strategic importance of enabling data centre development and the need to avoid and mitigate environmental and local impacts appropriately.

AI governance and assurance are central to the Government’s AI agenda, providing the principles and standards needed to ensure that AI development and deployment is safe and responsible, as well as the mechanisms for how this can be realised in practice.

That is why the Department for Business, Innovation, Science & Trade is coordinating across government on a series of targeted actions to strengthen the UK’s AI assurance sector.

This includes convening the AI Assurance Stakeholder Consortium, led by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, which brings together representatives from across the AI assurance ecosystem, including various government departments, to support the development of a recognised AI assurance profession.

The Semiconductor Advisory Panel shapes our national approach on semiconductors by engaging with the full spectrum of the UK’s semiconductor industry, across the different strengths, priorities and issues across all parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland. This includes consideration of cross cutting issues like photonics and skills, both of which are important to Northern Ireland’s semiconductor cluster. Government-funded sector studies also support the Panel’s work, with the 2026 Semiconductor Sector Study providing an updated assessment of the size, composition and development of the sector across the UK, including its regional clusters and strengths. This study highlights Northern Ireland as an important UK semiconductor cluster with particular strengths in photonics and hardware security.

The Government is committed to ensuring the benefits of AI are shared globally and that all countries can help shape the frameworks that govern its use.

The Prime Minister recently announced that AI will be at the heart of our G20 Presidency agenda. Building on our programmes such as AI for Development (AI4D), the Government will champion responsible AI for sustainable development, and will work with the G20's diverse membership to hold inclusive discussions on AI, ensuring diverse perspectives are represented which reflect the priorities of all members.

On 22 September, the Prime Minister set out steps the UK is taking to ensure AI delivers on its vast potential for good. These include a commitment to work towards principles and standards so that the most capable AI systems are developed securely and with appropriate transparency.

The AI Security Institute (AISI) will play a key role in delivering that commitment, contributing its technical expertise, drawing on years of experience in evaluation, research and technical collaboration.

Through our role as coordinator of the International Network for Advanced AI Measurement, Evaluation, and Science (NAAIMES), the UK will also continue to coordinate the writing and publication of best practices for AI evaluation with partner governments, following on from Best Practice: Automated Evaluation of Large Language Models, published by the Network in 2026.

The Government engages regularly with the UK defence manufacturing sector on the delivery of its national security and defence priorities. This engagement has informed the Defence Industrial Strategy, which sets out how Government and industry will work together to strengthen the UK’s defence industrial base, support UK-based businesses, accelerate innovation and build greater industrial resilience. This supports the National Security Strategy 2025 commitment to rebuild the UK’s defence industrial base and increase sovereign capabilities.

The Government recognises the importance of aviation and aerospace to local economies across the UK. Through our modern Industrial Strategy, we are supporting investment, innovation and high-skilled employment in sectors including advanced manufacturing and clean aviation. At the last Spending Review, the Government committed up to £2.3 billion over 10 years to the Aerospace Technology Institute Programme, supporting innovative research and development, strengthening UK aerospace supply chains and encouraging industrial investment. We are also working across government and with local partners to attract investment and support sustainable economic growth in communities with significant aviation and aerospace activity.

Information may be shared between the Insolvency Service, recognised professional bodies and insolvency office-holders where there is a lawful basis to do so and sharing is necessary and proportionate.

Any information sharing is subject to applicable statutory disclosure gateways, data-protection requirements, legal professional privilege and restrictions protecting confidential investigative material.

The Insolvency Service has published guidance on Gov.uk explaining the role of the Insolvency Practitioner Complaints Gateway and the types of complaint it can consider. Commercial or legal disputes arising from insolvency proceedings are generally matters for the court. The Recognised Professional Bodies, which regulate insolvency practitioners, also publish information on their complaints and disciplinary processes.

The Department considers that existing published guidance and regulatory information provides clarity on these respective responsibilities.

The Insolvency Service’s Complaints Gateway service standard is to assess 85% of complaints within 15 working days. Within that time, a complaint will either be rejected as being out of scope or referred to the relevant Recognised Professional Body (RPB) for further investigation, and the complainant informed of the outcome.

The Insolvency Service does not publish performance data relating to the Complaints Gateway. Internal management information indicates:

The RPBs are responsible for investigating complaints about the insolvency practitioners they authorise and for managing the timescales of those investigations.

Fraudulent voluntary insolvency is not an investigation criterion used by the Insolvency Service. The Insolvency Service holds data on insolvency practitioner appointments and the directors of insolvent companies. However, its case management systems cannot match these datasets to identify insolvent companies that have both the same directors and the same insolvency practitioner

Insolvency practitioners must report to the Insolvency Service on directors’ conduct. These reports do not record whether an insolvency practitioner is pursuing potential victims of alleged fraud. The requested figures are not held centrally and only could be produced through a manual review which would incur disproportionate cost.

Fraudulent voluntary insolvency is not an investigation criterion used by the Insolvency Service. The Insolvency Service holds data on insolvency practitioner appointments and the directors of insolvent companies. However, its case management systems cannot match these datasets to identify insolvent companies that have both the same directors and the same insolvency practitioner

Insolvency practitioners must report to the Insolvency Service on directors’ conduct. These reports do not record whether an insolvency practitioner is pursuing potential victims of alleged fraud. The requested figures are not held centrally and only could be produced through a manual review which would incur disproportionate cost.

The Government published its consultation on employment status reform and protections for the self-employed on 14 October 2026. The consultation seeks views on proposals to tackle bogus self-employment, improve compliance with the employment status framework and strengthen protections for the self-employed. This includes the potential role of the Fair Work Agency in tackling bogus self-employment, specifically how the Agency could support greater understanding of employment status and compliance with the law, and how its civil proceedings powers could be used to help determine employment status. It will close on 8 January 2027.

Clamping down on illegal working is a critical part of this Government's work to restore order and control within the immigration and asylum system. As well, bogus self-employment is unacceptable in any sector. Businesses who follow the rules should never be undercut by those who deny people their employment rights and avoid their legal obligations by claiming someone is self-employed when in reality they are not. The government has published a consultation on targeted reforms to employment status to tackle issues such as bogus self-employment. The proposals will support some of the most vulnerable workers in Britain, including those in sectors like parcel delivery, takeaway delivery, hairdressing, social care and construction.

The government is aware of concerns about fraudulent locksmiths advertising and the harm it causes consumers and legitimate locksmith businesses. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 prohibits unfair commercial practices, including misleading actions and omissions, and clarifies that online platforms must exercise professional diligence in relation to consumer transactions promoted or made on their platforms.

The department is engaging with relevant stakeholders (including the Master Locksmiths Association) and enforcement bodies to better understand the issue and consider how fraudulent practices can best be addressed.

The government is aware of concerns about fraudulent locksmiths advertising and the harm it causes consumers and legitimate locksmith businesses. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 prohibits unfair commercial practices, including misleading actions and omissions, and clarifies that online platforms must exercise professional diligence in relation to consumer transactions promoted or made on their platforms.

The department is engaging with relevant stakeholders (including the Master Locksmiths Association) and enforcement bodies to better understand the issue and consider how fraudulent practices can best be addressed.

The department does not hold specific data on the number of complaints about the mis-selling of horses, and it has not made an assessment of the adequacy of regulating this market. However, businesses must comply with consumer protection law, including requirements that information provided to consumers is clear and not misleading.

Horses that are sold for commercial purposes would generally not be in scope of consumer protection legislation and would be largely a matter of contractual law.

More broadly, the Government recently committed to longer term plans to overhaul the wider consumer protection landscape.

The department does not hold specific data on the number of complaints about the mis-selling of horses, and it has not made an assessment of the adequacy of regulating this market. However, businesses must comply with consumer protection law, including requirements that information provided to consumers is clear and not misleading.

Horses that are sold for commercial purposes would generally not be in scope of consumer protection legislation and would be largely a matter of contractual law.

More broadly, the Government recently committed to longer term plans to overhaul the wider consumer protection landscape.

The department does not hold specific data on the number of complaints about the mis-selling of horses, and it has not made an assessment of the adequacy of regulating this market. However, businesses must comply with consumer protection law, including requirements that information provided to consumers is clear and not misleading.

Horses that are sold for commercial purposes would generally not be in scope of consumer protection legislation and would be largely a matter of contractual law.

More broadly, the Government recently committed to longer term plans to overhaul the wider consumer protection landscape.

The government has not assessed the merits of requiring employers to provide employment references for former employees. Employers can choose whether to provide a reference, except where there is specific legal or contractual obligation to do so. However, where an employer does provide a reference, common law requires it to be fair, truthful, accurate and not misleading. ACAS publishes guidance for employers on this issue on its website.

The government recognises concerns that some recruitment practices may create barriers to labour market participation and will consider how best to work with employers to reduce any potential barriers. However, at this time there are no plans to require further steps from employers on this issue.

The Early Careers Jobs Alliance brings together government, employers, trade unions and young people, initially focussed on the digital and technology sector, to understand how AI is changing entry-level work and how businesses can maintain pathways into employment. Backed by £20 million of UKRI funding, the Alliance will deliver pilot programmes to test and evaluate approaches to sustaining high-quality entry-level opportunities as AI is adopted.

Alongside the pilot programmes, the Alliance will work with the AI Economics Institute and other government partners to track entry-level hiring. This evidence will help assess whether pathways into employment for young people are being maintained and identify what works.

Existing legislation already restricts the use of fireworks between 11pm and 7am, with later cut-off times for Bonfire Night, New Year, Diwali and Chinese New Year. The Government recently concluded a public consultation on targeted reforms to fireworks and pyrotechnics legislation, launched in response to public and parliamentary concerns about noise, safety and misuse. The consultation closed on 7 October 2026 and the Government is reviewing responses, which will help inform decisions on any future legislative or policy changes.

The Government is committed to helping co-operatives grow and sustain, including in central Scotland.

Eligible co-operatives can access programmes including Help to Grow: Management for leadership training, mentoring and support, which BIST has updated so that there is now more information on co-operatives and mutuals, as well as The British Business Bank’s Growth Guarantee Scheme for finance to invest and grow.

Government will continue working closely with the devolved government in Scotland, including Scottish Enterprise and sector partners

Our forthcoming response to the BIST call for evidence on business support for co-operatives and non-financial mutuals will also set out further government action.

Ministers and officials regularly meet with Royal Mail in its capacity as the universal service provider.

I have been frank in my conversations with Royal Mail’s leadership that its service has been unacceptable for too long, and that the pace of improvement must increase. I will continue to raise issues relating to service performance directly with Royal Mail, including the impact of delays on communities.

The Cyber Security Strategy for Health and Care to 2030 sets out a vision for a cyber resilient health and care sector, including focusing on the greatest risks and harms. Through the mandatory Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT), DHSC set a cyber security standard for National Health Service organisations proportionate to their risk profile and in response to the cyber threat. Adherence to this standard, in addition to the standards and guidance that we publish around procurement of medical devices, will help organisations to ensure that their networks are secure and that risks with associated Internet-of-Things medical devices are suitably understood and mitigated. The strategy is available here.

More broadly, DCMS’s Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 and associated regulations establish mandatory baseline cyber security requirements for consumer connectable industrial products.

The Government published the Replacing Animals in Science strategy in November 2025, setting out a cross-government programme to accelerate the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods. Delivery is underway across Government and partner organisations, supported by £75 million of investment. Progress includes the establishment of the £20 million Pre-clinical Translational Models Hub, guidance on the establishment of an alternative methods expert committee, new MHRA measures supporting the regulatory use of non-animal data, and £2 million funding for innovative human-relevant technologies to replace dogs in drug development. A delivery update and key performance indicators will be published later in 2026.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that collaboration between academia and industry can support innovation. As such, the Government’s Economic Security Advisory Service was launched last year to support UK business in navigating economic security challenges, including protecting their intellectual property. The Research Collaboration Advice Team (RCAT) also provides advice to research institutions on the national security risks linked to international research, helping to safeguard valuable UK research, knowledge and intellectual property from loss, misuse or exploitation. This includes where universities are engaging in industry partnerships.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 7 September 2026 in response to Question 27845, which refers to the answer provided on 30 June 2026 in response to Question 11617.

The government is ensuring that the UK is ready for both the challenges and opportunities that AI will bring. We have taken important steps to ensure that many AI systems are already regulated at the point of use by our existing expert regulators. This is both through sector-specific regulations such as medicines regulation, and cross-cutting legal safeguards including data protection, competition, product safety, and equalities laws. The safety of the British public is a non-negotiable priority. Where new protections are needed, we will act, legislating wherever necessary.

Creditors have statutory rights to consider and challenge an administrator’s remuneration and expenses.

Administrators must provide creditors with the relevant information about their remuneration and expenses, and creditors may request further information about the costs incurred.

Where a creditor considers that an administrator’s remuneration or expenses are excessive, insolvency legislation provides mechanisms for those costs to be challenged, including through the courts.

The government will publish guidance and provide time for employers to adjust to the new rules around shift notice. The guidance will cover how much notice should be presumed reasonable as well as other factors employers should consider to determine what notice is reasonable in given circumstances.

AI has enormous potential to improve lives and drive economic growth, but its rapidly advancing capabilities also present serious risks. As the Prime Minister has said the UK will work towards agreement on common global principles and standards.

In the coming months, we will use our convening role to bring together the right partners to use AI for good and address its risks, engaging international counterparts, industry, researchers and the wider international system, including the UN.