UK Automotive and Components Sector

Debate between Lord Leong and Lord Evans of Rainow

Wednesday 9th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Leong (Lab)]

My Lords, my noble friend rightly reminds us that cyber attacks affect companies of all sizes, and this is a stark reminder that JLR is not only the manufacturer but also the anchor of the supply chain. We are working with JLR, lenders, local partners and suppliers to safeguard viable businesses, improve access to finance and strengthen cyber resilience. On procurement, we will use government purchasing power strategically to ensure that British manufacturers can compete fairly and that social value, resilient supply chains and UK capability are recognised in purchasing decisions.

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

My Lords, the Minister will be aware that the Chinese Government and their motor manufacturers are eyeing up the European car market, flooding it with millions of good-quality cars which are undercutting our own domestic market—an issue the noble Lord, Lord Spellar, addressed in his excellent Question. What assessment has the Minister made of the Chinese Government’s strategy of flooding the European car market, and is he aware that Volkswagen has closed down its state-of-the-art plant in Dresden?

AI: Workforce Training

Debate between Lord Leong and Lord Evans of Rainow

Monday 3rd November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Evans of Rainow]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to accelerate AI training for the United Kingdom’s existing workforce.

[Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord Leong) (Lab)]

My Lords, we want to ensure that people have access to good, meaningful jobs. That is why the Government are supporting workforce readiness for AI through a range of initiatives. The new AI Skills Hub, developed by Innovate UK and PwC, provides streamlined access to digital training. This will support government priorities through tackling critical skills gaps and improving workforce readiness. At the same time, we are partnering with 11 major companies to train 7.5 million UK workers in essential AI skills by 2030.

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

I thank the Minister for that helpful Answer. Artificial intelligence training courses already exist and, as the noble Lord said, there are many of them. British history provides a template to achieve a greater take-up for the wider population. In 1969 Harold Wilson established the Open University, a distance learning model to reach people who could not or would not attend residential courses. BBC broadcasts made it part of the national conversation. Now is the time, perhaps, to replicate that success with artificial intelligence courses for the 21st century, perhaps calling it “Open AI for all”. Does the noble Lord agree?

[Lord Leong (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord for reminding us of the great work of our former Prime Minister Harold Wilson and the Open University. The Government support modern, flexible learning to cater to diverse learners right across the UK. Many universities already offer fully online postgraduate courses in AI. To expand this, we are also introducing the lifelong learning entitlement, LLE, launching in January 2027, which is designed to help people study in ways that fit their lives, especially mature learners looking to retrain or upskill. We are also working with stakeholders, including the Open University, which the noble Lord mentioned, to shape policy and raise awareness. The LLE will make it easier to access education throughout life, wherever and whenever it is needed.