Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to deliver the full version of the new Gov.uk mobile app; and how they anticipate that it will help people access different government services.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The public beta of the GOV.UK app was launched on 1st July 2025, providing initial functionality to enhance access to government services.
The app will be developed iteratively, with new features such as the government’s generative AI chatbot – GOV.UK Chat, and GOV.UK Wallet introduced over time.
The app is designed to offer a personalised experience, proactively helping users to access and action central and local government services more easily and efficiently by understanding preferences and personal context.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of artificial intelligence technologies on the customer service sector; and what steps they are taking to support job security in the sector.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
In November 2023, the Department for Education published a report showing the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on areas within the UK labour market and education The impact of AI on UK jobs and training - GOV.UK. The report noted that professional occupations are more exposed to AI, particularly those associated with more clerical work and across finance, law and business management roles.
The Government is committed to ensuring both learners and employers have access to crucial digital and artificial intelligence skills that have the potential to increase productivity and create new high value jobs in the UK economy. To achieve this, the Government is reforming the skills system. The Government has established Skills England to form a coherent national picture of skills gaps and to help shape the technical education system so that it is responsive to skills needs.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage businesses to increase their hiring rates; and whether further support is needed to help businesses expand their workforce.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is committed to building a firm economic foundation, working closely with businesses and workers to kickstart and rebuild our economy.
The SME Strategy will be published later this summer, including the Business Growth Service that will make it easier for businesses to get the advice and support they need to grow and thrive. The Government-backed British Business Bank aims to improve access to finance to help businesses invest and grow.
Employment is central to the recently announced Industrial Strategy, supporting growth sectors to create high-quality, well-paid jobs across the country.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK's artificial intelligence skills gap; and whether they plan to incentivise skilled workers to migrate to the UK to work in the sector.
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.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK's energy capacity to ensure that energy prices remain stable despite the increasing use of artificial intelligence.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is committed to including data centres as part of its strategic energy plans and has established the AI Energy Council. The Council will continue to identify any barriers to the growth of AI and data centres in the UK, and ensure the growth supports our clean power mission, which includes a commitment to protect consumers.
In general, the way to keep energy prices stable with increasing demand for electricity is to make the electricity wholesale price reflect the much cheaper wholesale price of clean energy. Over this Parliament the Government will be working relentlessly to achieve that.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the creation of artificial human DNA; and whether they plan to implement regulation on the artificial creation of human life.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
HMG is committed to fostering responsible innovation in engineering biology and safely unlocking the benefits of the technology. Government engages regularly with experts responsible for research practices in engineering biology, including through the Engineering Biology Responsible Innovation Advisory Panel.
UKRI also plays a key role in fostering a culture of responsible innovation and promoting good research practices in biological research. UKRI recognises the importance of high ethical standards within research and has rigorous processes in place to ensure the research it funds conforms to all relevant ethical, legal and regulatory requirements.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how implementing hiring quotas to encourage the recruitment and training of more British doctors will affect the hiring costs of the NHS.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No assessment has been made. As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, published on 3 July, we will work across Government to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training, and to prioritise UK medical graduates and other doctors who have worked in the National Health Service for a significant period for specialty training. Over the next three years we will also create 1,000 new specialty training posts with a focus on specialties where there is the greatest need.
We will publish a new 10 Year Workforce Plan later this year to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of the aviation sector to emissions in the UK, and of the impact on the UK's ability to meet climate targets.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
According to the latest final UK greenhouse gas emissions statistics published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, greenhouse gas emissions from domestic and international civil aviation in 2023 totalled 34.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e). This was 8 percent of total UK greenhouse gas emissions.
The government is making great strides in transitioning to greener aviation, including by introducing the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Mandate and introducing the SAF Bill to implement the revenue certainty mechanism.
The government makes regular assessments concerning the impact of aviation emissions on climate targets. A Carbon Budget Delivery Plan will be published later this year, detailing policies to decarbonise all sectors, including aviation, covering the carbon budget 4 - 6 period (2023 – 2037).
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of energy prices on the speed of adoption of emission curbing technologies; and whether they plan to introduce measures to reduce energy costs for the adoption of those technologies.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
There has been rapid growth in clean technology adoption such as EVs and heat pumps over the last year.
Over this Parliament the government will be working relentlessly to translate the much cheaper wholesale costs of clean power into lower bills for consumers, including addressing the price disparity between electricity and gas to attract more consumers to adopt clean technologies.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of cryptocurrencies as a payment method in the UK; and whether they plan to further regulate the use of those currencies.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government believes that cryptoassets, specifically stablecoins, have the potential to play a significant role in UK payments. The Government’s view is that action to bring UK-issued stablecoins into scope of payments regulation is best done alongside broader planned reforms to payments legislation. The Government intends to bring forward legislation delivering a comprehensive national regulatory framework for cryptoassets by the end of this year and is engaging with industry on draft legislation.