EU Digital Services Act and Regulation
Baroness Gill Excerpts(1 week, 4 days ago)
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Baroness Gill
To ask His Majesty’s Government what discussions they have held with the European Union in relation to (1) alignment with the EU Digital Services Act, and (2) greater co-operation on digital services regulation.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business and Trade and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (Baroness Lloyd of Effra) (Lab)
The Government regularly engage with the EU on digital policy, including direct discussions on the Digital Services Act, which like the UK’s Online Safety Act requires companies to take proportionate steps to protect users online. While the UK has taken its own regulatory approach, we co-operate with the EU where it supports UK citizens and businesses. The new EU-UK digital dialogue will deepen co-operation on shared challenges, including AI and online child safety.
Baroness Gill (Lab)
I thank the Minister for her response. There would be several economic, regulatory and strategic benefits if the UK were to be part of the EU’s Digital Services Act. Scale matters when it comes to dealing with the powerful global tech companies, and it is quite clear from the US’s AI action plan that it will not limit their powers. The DSA is likely to become a global standard, like GDPR, so can the Minister confirm that this Government will include it as a matter of urgency on the agenda of ongoing reset discussions with the EU, with a view to becoming a member?
International Women’s Day
Baroness Gill Excerpts(2 weeks, 2 days ago)
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Baroness Gill (Lab)
My Lords, it is a great honour to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Brown, and take part in this International Women’s Day debate, especially on this special day, when so many of our newly ennobled women made their brilliant maiden speeches. We have heard of their remarkable achievements. They are inspiring additions to your Lordships’ House.
Today’s debate marks a milestone for Sikh women across all areas of British life. There has been much to celebrate since I was first elected in 1999, notably the first five Sikh-heritage female MPs elected in 2024 in the other place, and I was honoured recently to join these Benches, too. We now have Sikh Labour women across both Houses.
Women of Sikh heritage are in every field of life, from leading King’s Counsels, judges, professionals, academics and creatives to achievers of amazing feats, such as “Polar Preet” walking across Antarctica. We have much to be proud of.
Nevertheless, there are many concerns in our society for Sikh women. A recent report by Sikh Women’s Aid highlighted that two-thirds of respondents experienced domestic abuse, although—a little differently—in the extended family context, the perpetrators can also be other women.
More worryingly, there have been several incidents of racially motivated rape targeted at Sikh women. That has heightened insecurity among the community. This development needs urgent action by local law officers.
In addressing these challenges, the House has regularly raised concerns about online misogyny—in this debate, many of your Lordships have made reference to it, recognising that women who stand up or speak out are more likely to suffer from extreme levels of abuse and threats of violence.
As we progress with accelerated speed toward artificial intelligence becoming part of our everyday lives, I fear for how this will affect ordinary women’s lives. Whether it is automated human resources or assessments about opening a bank account, it is likely that an algorithm will be deciding. We should all be concerned, because the vast majority of those writing the codes and algorithms are likely to be men.
I had the opportunity to work in the tech sector, albeit a decade or so ago. I was staggered—as we have already heard—that so few women work in the sector, not just in the UK but worldwide. Of course, there are always high-flying household names in the US, but they are the exception as opposed to the rule. Most of the women in the senior jobs I came across were in generic areas, such as HR, communications or public policy—as I was.
I beg noble Lords’ indulgence as I share some statistics. Last December, in its report, BCS Gender Diversity in the Tech Sector Report, the British Computer Society, the Chartered Institute for IT, noted:
“There were 441,000 female IT specialists in the UK … 22% of all IT specialists in the UK”.
If we had equality between the sexes, there would have been at least 1 million.
The report also noted that women earn 12% less than their male counterparts and are more likely to be part-time. However, for me, a shocking statistic was that only 0.6% of employees in this growing sector are Black women. The women who are in this sector are more likely to be unemployed and less likely to be self-employed, and only one in 20 is an IT engineer. The figures are a little better if you are a project or programme manager, although not in all cases: in manufacturing, only 11% of IT employees are women.
What really disappoints me is that the representation of women in senior executive roles has not changed since I was there. It is a truly shameful record that does not inspire confidence in the projected AI-dominated future. I welcome the statement made by the Minister, the noble Baroness, Lady Lloyd of Effra, at the start of this debate—I am hugely encouraged by her emphasis on addressing concerns in the tech sector—but I emphasise that the one point the Government must address is greater participation of BAME women in STEM learning.
I acknowledge the challenges around the safety of and opportunities for women and girls, but it is vital that, today, we recognise the success and value that all women and girls across the country bring to British society.
UK-India: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
Baroness Gill Excerpts(2 weeks, 4 days ago)
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Baroness Gill (Lab)
My Lords, it is with great pleasure that I take part in this debate. I welcome this landmark comprehensive trade agreement between the United Kingdom and India, and I thank the International Agreements Committee for its work under the leadership of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Goldsmith, on this excellent report.
In a world of shifting strategy and strategic balances, heightened geopolitical uncertainty and fragile supply chains, which are sorely under strain, with rising protectionism and greater polarisation between East and West, this agreement sends out an important signal. It demonstrates not only that this Government are committed to being outward and forward looking but that they are serious about deepening relationships with growing economies and creating partnerships with like-minded democracies.
As we have already heard, India is the fastest-growing major economy globally, but it is not simply a large market. It is a powerhouse in the region and a technology power—one that is likely to be an engine of growth in the decades ahead. Strengthening our relationship is both commercially sensible and strategically wise. The economic rationale alone is compelling. Bilateral trade between the UK and India now exceeds £40 billion annually, spanning goods and services. Therefore, our ongoing dialogue must be dynamic—a living platform, as we have already heard, that evolves as India’s global economic footprint expands.
For Britain’s communities, in particular among the British-Indian diaspora—I speak on behalf of those in Birmingham, in Leicester, in London and elsewhere in the country—real benefits will be felt in everyday life. Expanded trade promises lower prices, greater consumer choice and more resilient supply chains for essential goods. I believe that the benefits will be tangible and wide-ranging for us both. For our small and medium-sized enterprises, which were referred to earlier and are the backbone of the British economy, this will mean tariff reductions and simplified customs procedures. Access to Indian public procurement will open up opportunities in a market of 1.5 billion people.
Having said that, I agree with your Lordships that we must recognise that SMEs will not be able to utilise these opportunities without extensive support, including clear guidance, understanding procedures and targeted facilitation to transform potential into real trade and innovative outcomes. Many of us have worked over there and have a deep understanding of the different business environment, appreciating the complex relationship between trade bodies and decision-makers there. The onus must be on our trade bodies, especially the regional ones, to step up and support our SME organisations. That will lead to the maximisation of the benefits for businesses and households.
My old friend, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, observed that development requires the expansion of human freedom and capabilities. In this context, trade is not merely a financial exercise. It is about enabling people, ideas and knowledge to circulate freely. The modern economy rewards ideas as much as goods. Artificial intelligence, digital services and advanced manufacturing are reshaping global markets and value chains. This agreement has the potential to strengthen the living bridge between the two much further. Diaspora entrepreneurs, professionals and families who span the UK and India are not merely observers of policies. They need to be active participants in sustaining long-term economic and cultural growth.
I believe that this has to be the beginning of a broader road map—one that deepens co-operation on advanced technologies, green finance, skills recognition and innovations that will lead to SMEs participating fully. If we want to ensure that this agreement is truly forward looking, it must create structured pathways for joint research, co-innovation and regulatory dialogue sooner rather than later.
I say this because of India’s subsequent agreements with the European Union, which I championed for many decades while I was in the European Parliament. They had years to work out that relationship; we had a very short window to work on this agreement. India is demonstrating that it is ready to expand its trade agreement and look at other areas. A couple of days ago, India and Canada struck a range of accords, including a 10-year nuclear energy deal and deals on technology, critical minerals, space, defence and education. We need to follow this.
I encourage the Government to contemplate how this agreement could evolve over the coming decade. For example, there has been considerable debate in this House about AI. Successive offshoots of this agreement could promote a more structured collaboration on emerging technologies, especially AI, in a way that supports ethical standards, fosters SME innovation and deepens people-to-people exchanges across universities and industry. I ask the Minister what concrete mechanism the Government will put in place to ensure that this agreement becomes a platform for not just trade but shared innovation, professional mobility and AI collaboration, turning this vision into tangible benefits for businesses, communities and the next generation of innovators.
To conclude, I once again congratulate everyone involved in bringing about this CETA. As the noble and learned Lord, Lord Goldsmith, rightly said, it is no mean feat to get this with India. I commend the Government for the speed with which they have built this strong foundation for a durable strategic partnership with India. Our focus and ambition should be that this comprehensive agreement is of lasting value, measured not merely by trade figures but by how it has strengthened ideas, skills and human connections, ensuring that we have jointly created a resilient, strategic and enduring partnership.