AI: Labour Market Changes
Debate between Lord Leong and Lord Bishop of Oxford
Lord Leong (Lab)
My Lords, the recent India AI summit concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi declaration on AI impact, endorsed by nearly 90 countries. The declaration promotes international co-operation on its benefits, including equitable, enhanced trustworthiness and security, and on expanding access to AI for social and economic growth. We are also signing a leader statement in support of India’s agenda this year. So we are working with India and acknowledging that we have to come together globally to address this issue.
The Lord Bishop of Oxford
My Lords, I welcome the new institute, the announcement and the individuals involved. I want to ask a question about the values that the Government will take forward in thinking about this area. What practical steps are they taking to ensure that humanity is at the centre of people’s experience of work, that we are not working for algorithms, and that work is at the centre of humanity and society?
Lord Leong (Lab)
My Lords, that is an excellent question. Let me set out the Government’s position here. Let me also say that technology has impacted us for the last 50 years and we have risen above it. We have embraced technology in the way that we work, do business, access financial information and so on. Technology will always be here and there will be challenges, but we have to rise above them. All of us know that we have this telephone in our pockets or our handbags, and the phone is more powerful than the computer that sent men to the moon. We have the power to reach the stars and we have to do it; we have to embrace AI in all our future considerations and ensure that it is safe for everybody.
Jaguar Land Rover Cyberattack
Debate between Lord Leong and Lord Bishop of Oxford(6 months, 2 weeks ago)
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Lord Leong (Lab)
My Lords, perhaps the noble Lord did not hear my last answer. Tackling cyberthreats and improving our national cyber defences is a priority for this Government. As I mentioned, when parliamentary time allows, the Government will introduce the cybersecurity and resilience Bill to raise cybersecurity standards in critical infrastructure and essential services such as water, energy and the NHS and, I am told, food security.
The Lord Bishop of Oxford
My Lords, on Monday the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence heard a striking presentation from the Polish Minister for defence and cybersecurity, who talked about the joined-up thinking his nation has developed on defence and commercial attacks of this kind. I ask the Minister what the Government are doing to join up thinking in defence and industry, in terms of cyber- attacks. In light of the Government’s promotion of artificial intelligence, do they consider that this increases the risk of cyberattacks of this kind? What steps are the Government taking to advocate responsible and cautious adoption of AI to mitigate this risk?
Lord Leong (Lab)
I thank the right reverend Prelate for that question. In 2024, the National Cyber Security Centre managed hundreds of incidents, 89 of which were nationally significant attacks. In 2025, the cybersecurity breaches survey shows that just less than half of businesses, about 43%, and around one-third of charities, about 30%, reported having experienced a cybersecurity breach or attack in the past 12 months. Cyberattacks do not happen just to big companies; they attack every company, all sizes and all types, and we have to be vigilant on that. The Government see the UK cybersecurity sector as a driving force in widening opportunities for our citizens. We have to ensure that this is protected. The Government have a plan and are working across departments putting a Bill together and we hope that parliamentary time will allow us to bring it forward.