Asked by: Lord Gilbert of Panteg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of generative AI in schools and its impact on (1) children's education and long-term skills, and (2) children’s safety and well-being.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The department recognises the transformative potential of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in education and is taking a measured, evidence-led approach to its adoption. In January 2025, the department published updated guidance on the safe and effective use of generative AI in schools, including product safety expectations that prioritise child-centred design and safeguarding.
Secondly, to assess the impact of AI on children’s education and long-term skills, the department is investing over £1 million in a test-and-learn pilot with schools, colleges, and educational technology (EdTech) firms. This EdTech Impact Testbed Pilot is designed to evaluate how AI tools affect staff workload, pupil outcomes, and inclusivity. The department is also funding Ofsted to research how early adopter schools are using AI to support teaching and learning, with findings due in June 2025.
Additionally, the EdTech Evidence Board pilot launched in partnership with the Chartered College of Teaching is developing criteria to assess the effectiveness of EdTech tools. This will support schools in making evidence-based decisions about AI adoption.
Finally, to ensure safety and well-being, the department has published free training materials for educators and continues to work with regulators and the sector to ensure AI tools are safe, effective, and inclusive.
Asked by: Lord Gilbert of Panteg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the speech made by the Secretary of State for Education at the Education World Forum on 19 May regarding funding to test the effectiveness of EdTech products in schools, what consultations they have held with civil society and other relevant organisations representing the interests of children as part of this work.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The department has announced over £1 million in funding to test the effectiveness of education technology (EdTech) products in schools and colleges. This initiative is part of a broader commitment to harness artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools to improve staff workload, pupil outcomes, and inclusivity. This work is based on findings from the department’s 2023 call for evidence on AI in education, which gathered views from educators, academics and civil society organisations on technology and AI in the classroom.
As part of this work, the department has launched an open expression of interest for schools, colleges and EdTech companies to participate in the EdTech Impact Testbed Pilot. The department is working with the Open Innovation Team to engage the education sector and gather insights on what works. This includes collaboration with educators and EdTech firms to ensure the tools tested are relevant and impactful.
The department is also currently undertaking deliberative engagement with pupils, parents and teachers to explore the use of pupil work to train AI. We are putting children, teachers and parents at the centre of work to explore responsible governance structures.
Asked by: Lord Gilbert of Panteg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to invite UK-based civil society organisations and those representing the interests of children to attend their international summit on generative AI in education to be held in 2026.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The UK will host a high-level international summit on generative artificial intelligence (AI) in education in 2026. This initiative reinforces the UK’s commitment to international collaboration and to ensuring AI benefits all learners, everywhere.
Planning for the summit is underway, and the department is currently considering the format and attendees. Further information will be made available in due course.
Asked by: Lord Gilbert of Panteg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 17 December (HL3301), what steps the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government is taking to discourage local authorities from translating into foreign languages, in line with the Guidance on Diversity and Inclusion and Impartiality for Civil Servants, published on 14 May, and the associated guidance in 2013.
Answered by Lord Khan of Burnley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given to Question UIN HL2739 on 4 December 2024.
Asked by: Lord Gilbert of Panteg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Twycross on (1) 3 December (HL2738), and (2) 17 December (HL3301), why the Written Answer of 3 December stated that no guidance on translation had been issued by the Cabinet Office but the Written Answer of 17 December stated the Guidance on Diversity and Inclusion and Impartiality for Civil Servants, published on 14 May, remains in force; and whether they will now correct the official record.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
No specific guidance has been directly issued by the Cabinet Office on the topic of reducing spending by the civil service on translation into foreign languages. The Guidance on Diversity and Inclusion and Impartiality Requirements for Civil Servants signposts to another department's guidance that was issued in 2013.
Asked by: Lord Gilbert of Panteg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Twycross on 17 December (HL3302), what records the Crown Commercial Service holds on which public bodies have taken out contracts for translation services using the framework agreement on translation into foreign languages.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) collects information from suppliers for public bodies that have taken out contracts for translation services under its Language Services agreement (RM6141) only. These records contain the names of the public sector bodies (contracting authority) and their spend through the framework, an aggregate of £5,402,890 from 10 May 2021 to 10 December 2024.
Public bodies that have used the CCS commercial agreement RM6141 Language Services include: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Bridgend County Borough Council, British Library, British Transport Police, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Department for Transport, Department for Work and Pensions, Department of Health and Social Care, Environment Agency, Equality and Human Rights Commission, High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd, HM Revenue & Customs, Intellectual Property Office, London Borough of Brent Council, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, London Borough of Lambeth Council, London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, National Crime Agency, NHS England, NHS England - East of England, NHS England Sustainable Improvement Team, NHS Improvement, NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Unit, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Office for National Statistics, Office for Nuclear Regulation, Oxfordshire County Council, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Serious Fraud Office, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, The Pensions Regulator, Transport for London, UK Health Security Agency, Westminster City Council and Wokingham Borough Council.
Information on individual contracts should be publicly available on Contracts Finder at the following link: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk
Asked by: Lord Gilbert of Panteg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to (1) the Written Statement by the former Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 12 March 2013 (HC 5WS-6WS), and (2) the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 17 December (HL3302), whether they have made an assessment of the cost of translation to the public purse.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Cabinet Office does not hold information on the total cost of translation across Government. Individual departments are responsible for determining their own translation requirements.
Asked by: Lord Gilbert of Panteg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment, if any, they have made of the effect of public bodies’ translation into foreign languages on integration and community cohesion.
Answered by Lord Khan of Burnley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Government recognises that the ability to speak English is key to helping people integrate into life in the UK, as well as supporting people to access education, employment and other opportunities. Public bodies are responsible for determining their own requirements for language services and ensuring these deliver good value for money for the taxpayer and a good service.
Asked by: Lord Gilbert of Panteg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 3 December (HL2738), whether the guidance against unnecessary translation of documents into foreign languages in paragraph 44 of Guidance on Diversity and Inclusion and Impartiality Requirements for Civil Servants remains Civil Service policy.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The current version of this guidance published on 14 May 2024 remains in place.
Asked by: Lord Gilbert of Panteg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 3 December 2024 (HL2738), what is the aggregate value of the Crown Commercial Service framework agreement on translation into foreign languages.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The aggregated value of spend on translation via the Crown Commercial Services language services framework (RM6141) is £5,402,890. (correct as of 10/12/2024).