Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to bring forward reforms to improve NHS efficiency.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The merger of NHS England and the Department will lead to a smaller, leaner and more agile department. Alongside this, the restructuring of integrated care systems and commissioning support units is set to reduce running costs and NHS England is also tackling corporate cost growth in providers. These ongoing reforms will transform the way the centre and the National Health service works, prioritise resources for the front line and deliver significant efficiency savings. NHS efficiencies also include more effective use of medicines, commercial levers, automation, shared corporate services and reduced use of agency staff.

Looking forward, the funding provided at the recent Spending Review will enable the NHS to achieve 2% productivity growth each year, and we will shortly be publishing the 10-Year Health Plan that will set out the wider reform agenda.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of artificial intelligence in the identification of patients with prostate cancer who would benefit most from treatment with abiraterone.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We are committed to transforming diagnostic services and will support the National Health Service to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new capacity, including artificial intelligence (AI) where it is beneficial to do so.

AI can be used to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of a number of diseases, including prostate cancer. This technology enables patients to be seen more quickly, which increases their likelihood of a successful outcome whilst simultaneously being more cost effective.

Through the AI in Health and Care Award, the Department has provided £113 million to test and evaluate AI technologies in crucial areas. Two of the tools funded by the AI award are Ibex Medical Analytics’ AI System and Paige Prostate Cancer Detection Tool. Both of these tools help with the early detection and grading of prostate cancer. Funding from the AI award helps to generate the evidence needed to deploy effective AI tools across the NHS and improve the lives and health outcomes of our population.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need to regulate the artificial intelligence sector, and what assessment they have made of the potential risks of harm if such technology is left unregulated.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

AI is not unregulated in the UK. A range of existing rules already apply such as data protection, competition, equality legislation and other forms of sector regulation.

The vast majority of AI systems should be regulated at point of use by existing regulators. In response to the AI Action Plan, the Government committed to identifying capability needs for regulators to mitigate AI risks and drive growth. Advanced AI systems pose distinct opportunities and risks, and we are developing legislative proposals to allow us to safely realise the benefits of these systems. We will launch a public consultation in due course.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the development of artificial intelligence growth zones across the UK, and to ensure those zones are spread throughout the country.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The AI Opportunities Action Plan set out the governments ambition to deliver AI Growth Zones (AIGZs) to accelerate the development and deployment of large-scale AI infrastructure. These zones will fast-track planning processes and unlock access to critical energy and land resources.

Following an Expressions of Interest exercise earlier this year, the government has now launched a formal qualification process to identify suitable AIGZs. The government is working closely with devolved governments and local authorities to progress potential AI Growth Zones across the country.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage the development of artificial intelligence in the UK and to ensure that the sector retains a strong base in the UK.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Prime Minister launched the AI Opportunities Action Plan in January. It sets out 50 far reaching actions needed to drive up the development and deployment of AI. Government accepted all 50 recommendations.

Progress has been made across a range of actions, including holding the first AI Energy Council meeting, signing an MOU with Anthropic, and opening the formal AI Growth Zone application process. The Spending Review 2025 will further cement the UK’s leadership in AI, driving economic growth and fostering a safer, healthier, and more prosperous society.

The Government is driving forward AI development and adoption through the AI Opportunities Action Plan - taking decisive steps to position the UK as a global AI maker, not just a taker.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the development of artificial intelligence supercomputers to encourage increased investment in artificial intelligence in the UK.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

As outlined in the AI Opportunities Action Plan the Government committed to increase the UK’s AI compute capacity by twentyfold by 2030. At the Spending Review, we committed £1 billion to deliver this expansion, positioning the UK as a leader in high-performance AI computing, driving global innovation and scientific discovery. This will build on the capacity coming online this summer through the initial phase of the AI Research Resource, which is made up of 6,500 state of the art AI chips.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enable the use of fully autonomous vehicles and what are their plans for their regulation.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

His Majesty’s Government is committed to strengthening the UK’s reputation as a global leader in self-driving vehicle technology.

The Automated Vehicles (AV) Act 2024 delivers one of the most comprehensive legal frameworks of its kind anywhere in the world, with safety at its core. It sets out clear legal responsibilities, so businesses know where they stand, establishes a safety framework and creates the necessary regulatory powers. The Automated Vehicles Act Implementation programme aims to deliver the regulatory framework in the second half of 2027.

The introduction of automated passenger services regulations has been accelerated, subject to the outcome of a consultation later this summer. It will help facilitate commercial pilots of services with paying passengers and no safety driver to be deployed from spring 2026. These pilots will drive innovation, attract investment, and help shape the final regime.

In June, we launched a consultation and accompanying draft statutory instrument on protecting marketing terms for automated vehicles. This consultation aims to identify the words, expressions, symbols or marks that should only be used to describe authorised AVs to avoid consumer confusion.

June also saw the publication of a call for evidence on the Statement of Safety Principles, which will consider the safety outcomes that should be sought through the introduction of self-driving vehicles.

Further consultations will be taking place on the AV Act’s regulatory framework between now and 2027. This phased approach balances strong safeguards with the opportunity to realise the significant economic and societal benefits of this emerging technology.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the increasing use of green energy remains a central focus of UK energy policy.

Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The commitment to Clean Power by 2030 is a central focus of government policy, with an associated Action Plan outlining how the Government will achieve its clean power mission by rapid deployment of low carbon generation, along with transmission infrastructure. The Spending Review reconfirmed this mission. Great British Energy and Great British Energy – Nuclear will together invest more than £8.3 billion over the parliament in homegrown clean power. Landmark funding of over £500m for hydrogen infrastructure has also been announced. This will help deliver green energy while creating thousands of jobs in industrial regions and the supply chain.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to invest in increased energy storage solutions to reduce the cost of turning off wind farms and sourcing alternative energy sources.

Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Clean Power Action Plan was launched in December 2024 and sets out a pathway towards deploying more low carbon flexible technologies. The Clean Power Action Plan suggests we could need 4-6GW of Long Duration Electricity Storage (LDES) by 2030, up from 2.8GW today, and also outlines plans for the deployment of grid scale battery storage.

The Government and Ofgem are supporting the development of the next generation of LDES facilities with a cap and floor investment support scheme. We are also streamlining planning processes for storage projects to help reduce system constraint costs across the electricity network.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of further integrating artificial intelligence into the civil service, following the recent Government-led trial of artificial intelligence software.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

As referenced in the GDS Digital Government Blueprint, AI Opportunities Action Plan, and more recently, the Spending Review, integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the civil service is a core priority of this government, with the goal of delivering a lean and agile state, where expenditure is focussed towards services on which the public rely.

The model for delivering AI into the civil service includes both central focus from GDS, and also dispersed expertise within departments who understand the complex landscape of public service delivery. Tools are also being trialled across GDS, as well as within departments such as MHCLG, Home Office, HMRC, DHSC and MoJ. Many of these trials are underpinned by technology and tools created by the government's incubator for Artificial Intelligence (i.AI).

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether there are skills gaps in the artificial intelligence workforce; and what steps they are taking to increase AI-related skills across the UK workforce.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Reducing the AI skills gap is critical for increasing the UK’s productivity and delivering long-term growth. DSIT regularly reviews the status of the UK’s AI labour market and has commissioned a survey of the labour market, which will be published later this year. We are also working with DfE and Skills England to assess the AI skills gap and map pathways to fill it and recently announced a joint commitment with industry to upskill 7.5 million workers with vital AI skills.

As set out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan and reaffirmed at the Spending Review, we have also confirmed that we will be expanding AI education in universities, launching Pioneer Fellowships for cross-disciplinary upskilling, and introducing the Sparck AI Scholarships to attract and nurture top talent in UK institutions.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of UK companies seeking to be based and listed in the United States of America; and what steps they intend to take to encourage UK businesses to remain.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to reinvigorating our capital markets to deliver growth, supporting firms to start, scale, list and stay in the UK.

We have already delivered an ambitious set of reforms including overhauling the Prospectus regime and Listing Rules, providing more flexibility to firms and founders raising capital on UK markets.

The Government's recently published Industrial Strategy sets out how we are supporting favourable conditions to drive investment in our highest growth sectors, and spur domestic businesses to scale up - supporting high-quality jobs across the UK. This includes increasing the British Business Bank’s total financial capacity to £25.6 billion – which will result in a two-thirds increase in support for innovative UK businesses.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to limit the rise in public borrowing while maintaining a balanced budget, particularly in regard to debt interest payments and public sector spending commitments.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government’s approach to borrowing is set out in its fiscal rules: to move the current budget into balance, so day-to-day spending is met by revenues, meaning that the Government will only borrow for investment, and to reduce net financial debt as a share of the economy by the end of this parliament.

The Government has recently delivered a Spending Review which set multi-year spending plans, delivering this Government’s priorities whilst living within the envelopes set at Spring Statement 2025. While balancing the current budget, the Chancellor has increased day-to-day spending by £190 billion in real terms, and capital investment by over £120 billion over the Parliament compared to the plans set at Spring Budget 2024 by the previous government.

This Government has made difficult decisions on tax, spending and welfare to ensure we are living within our means. This is the responsible choice to reduce our levels of borrowing in the years ahead, so we can spend more on our public services, more on the priorities of working people and less on servicing debt. In its Spring forecast, the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast borrowing to fall in every year - from 4.8% GDP this year to 2.1% in 2029-30.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of non-domiciled individuals who have left the UK since the Autumn Budget 2024, and what estimate they have made of any reductions in tax revenue as a result.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Official Statistics around non-domiciled taxpayers in the UK [1] will be published in July 2025, and this will include information about taxpayers who claim non-domiciled status in the UK for the tax year 2023-24.

A supplementary forecast information release around the costings of reforms to the non-domicile regime was published by the Office for Budget Responsibility in January 2025 [2]. This costing outlines the certified impact of ending the non-domiciled tax status on revenues to the Exchequer.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-on-non-domiciled-taxpayers-in-the-uk

[2] https://obr.uk/docs/dlm_uploads/Non-doms-supplementary-release-Jan-2025.pdf

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of the funding for the AI Opportunities Action Plan will be allocated for improving infrastructure in the UK that AI technologies rely on, such as data centres.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The government agreed to take forward all the AI infrastructure related recommendations in the AI Opportunities Action Plan.

As part of this we’re enabling the build out of AI data centres by: establishing AI Growth Zones; classifying data centres as critical national infrastructure; and supporting delivery through planning and power reforms. These initiatives have already resulted in £45 billion in private-sector investment announced since July 2024.

In addition, at the Spending Review, we committed £1 billion to expand the UK's public compute capacity through the AI Research Resource.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of the growth of artificial intelligence technologies on future water demand; and what steps they are taking to mitigate the risk of water shortages as a result.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency published its second National Framework for Water Resources in June 2025 and continues to engage with the sector to improve understanding of future water needs. A questionnaire recently completed by the sector will aid modelling. Further data and more refined modelling will be needed to fully understand future needs.

Water companies also factor in future supplies required for non-household demand in their areas. Meeting increased demand will also require water using sectors, such as artificial intelligence technology, to forecast and plan their water consumption, look to water efficiency measures, and their own sources of water to support their operational resilience.

The Water Delivery Taskforce will hold water companies to account to deliver their PR24 plans; ensuring the additional water, wastewater and drainage capacity needed for longer-term growth is understood and suitable plans are in place for delivery both within and beyond the Price Review 2024 (PR24) programme.

Ofwat published their PR24 final determinations in December 2024, which sets company expenditure and customer bills for 2025-2030. This will deliver substantial and enduring improvements through a £104 billion upgrade for the water sector.