Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the dangers of state-sponsored disinformation.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government recognises the serious threat posed by state-sponsored disinformation and has a number of tools available to respond and protect against these threats. For example, the Foreign Interference Offence in the National Security Act is now a priority offence in the Online Safety Act, requiring companies to act against a range of state-linked disinformation online targeting the UK.
In addition, the Defending Democracy Taskforce was established in November 2022. Its mission statement is to reduce the risk of foreign interference to the UK’s democratic processes, institutions, and society, and ensure that these are secure and resilient to threats of foreign interference.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for continued investment in the BBC World Service.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lady to the answer I provided on 24 June 2025 to Question HL8298.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to provide funding to support the continued operation beyond June 2026 of (1) the National Glass Centre, and (2) the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art; and when they last discussed the future of those galleries with (a) Sunderland City Council, and (b) Sunderland Culture.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government is aware of the challenges the National Glass Centre is facing. How these challenges are managed, and decisions about its future, are a matter for the University of Sunderland and its partners, as the owner of the building.
Sunderland Culture is currently in discussion with the University about the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art’s (NGCA) future programme. These talks include exploring how to continue the city-wide approach to displaying the collection, which is currently exhibited in City Hall and The Beam. The University is also looking to lease space within Culture House as a potential permanent home for the NGCA. In addition, Arts Council England (ACE), an arm’s-length body of government, is working with Sunderland Culture and Sunderland City Council to help preserve the city’s glass-making heritage and skills for future generations.
In January 2025 Sunderland Culture was awarded £5 million from the Government’s Cultural Development Fund for Glassworks, a new world class facility for glass making in Sunderland that will connect the city’s 1,350 years of glass-making heritage. ACE delivers the Cultural Development Fund on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the Department of Education’s tendering process will take place for the Dance and Drama Awards scheme for academic year 2026–27 onwards, and whether they anticipate any delays to their usual timeframe.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The department hopes to soon announce the tendering arrangements for the Dance and Drama Awards scheme for 2026/27 academic year onwards. Funding for the 2026/27 academic year onwards is subject to the forthcoming spending review.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, with reference to their consultation on copyright and artificial intelligence (CP1205), what evidence they used to assess the function of the licensing market as it pertains to copyright data and the training of AI models.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government published a consultation on Copyright and AI in December 2024.
This consultation seeks views on proposals which seek to better facilitate licensing agreements between rights holders and AI developers, and whether more should be done to support good licensing practice.
The Government recognises that this is a complex area and welcomes all views and evidence on the function of the licensing market, to help shape its thinking.
The consultation closes on 25 February.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to their consultation on copyright and artificial intelligence (CP1205), what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of rights reservation mechanisms introduced by the EU.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government published a consultation on Copyright and AI in December 2024.
This consultation is seeking views on a similar approach to the EU’s, which many AI firms and right holders are already familiar with. However, we recognise that there is more work to do on technical standards and transparency before a rights reservation model can be considered workable for right holders and AI developers alike. We will use responses to the consultation to inform work on this detail and bring forward firm proposals.
The consultation closes on 25 February.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of transparency obligations on AI firms introduced by the EU.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The EU is developing its requirements for AI firms under the EU AI Act.
We recognise the importance of international collaboration on AI in order to drive safe, responsible innovation and continue to work closely with the EU and other international partners on AI to understand their approaches. This includes through bilateral relationships as well as through multilateral and multi-stakeholder initiatives, including the upcoming AI Action Summit in Paris.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to their consultation on copyright and artificial intelligence (CP1205), whether a market impact assessment will be published relating to any proposed changes to copyright law for text and data mining for AI models.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government published the consultation on Copyright and AI in December 2024.
Prior to its publication, the Government considered a range of approaches to clarify copyright law and meet its objectives for AI innovators and the creative industries. Further detail of the Government’s assessment of options can be found in the summary assessment (external link) published alongside the consultation.
Further information and evidence on economic impact is welcomed as part of the consultation, to help shape the Government’s thinking.
The consultation closes on 25 February.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to their consultation on copyright and artificial intelligence (CP1205), what evidence or research they have that the proposed copyright exemptions for AI training will lead to investment in the UK.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government published a consultation on Copyright and AI in December 2024.
The consultation seeks views on a package of measures which seek to promote growth and investment in both the creative industries and AI sector. We aim to balance the interests of AI developers and rights holders and provide the legal certainty to boost growth and investment across both sectors.
The evidence we receive will inform our impact assessment of the measures, including in relation to investment.
The consultation closes on 25 February.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to their consultation on copyright and artificial intelligence (CP1205), what analysis they have conducted which shows that the current copyright framework has held back AI adoption.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has engaged stakeholders at Ministerial and official level about these issues.
We have heard that the current copyright framework makes it difficult for creators to control whether their works can be used in AI training, and to seek payment. And that it also creates uncertainty and risk for firms seeking to develop or deploy AI in the UK.
A consultation on Copyright and AI was published in December 2024 seeking views on how to create clarity in this area, to promote growth and investment in both the creative industries and AI sector.
The consultation closes on 25 February.