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 steps they are taking to ensure that the regulation of artificial intelligence (1) does not negatively impact innovation, and (2) maintains the UK's competitive advantage.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government will establish binding regulations on the handful of companies developing the most powerful AI systems. This highly targeted legislation will ensure the UK is prepared for this fast-moving technology. The legislation will support growth and innovation by ending current regulatory uncertainty for AI developers, strengthening public trust and boosting business confidence.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to ensure that the prisons system's new 'early release scheme' includes comprehensive support for prisoners with programs for (1) employment, (2) training and, (3) rehabilitation to reduce the likelihood of reoffending.
Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Unlike the previous Government’s End of Custody Supervised Licence scheme, the change to the Standard Determinate Sentence release point has an eight week implementation period. This give probation and other agencies enough time to properly prepare release plans for offenders and ensure they are less likely to reoffend.
Ahead of implementation of the change to the Standard Determinate Sentence release point in September, we are working closely with the Department of Work and Pensions to ensure that prisons and Jobcentres are prepared to support temporarily higher volumes of prisoners approaching release as they transition into the community.
We will collectively ensure that relevant staff in prisons and Jobcentres will have the right data on prisoners who are being released, when and from which prisons. We will provide guidance and regular communications to those staff so they are aware of what actions to take.
This will ensure that prisoners are supported to prepare for release and supported in the community through the provision of bank accounts and ID, referrals to work programmes on release, arranging employment pre-release, and timely access to benefits where appropriate.
This work supports our aim to break the cycle of reoffending, and ensuring those who leave prison are supported as they transition into the community, helping to turn lives around and cut crime.
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 the potential impact of using AI tools to (1) improve patient outcomes and, (2) reduce uncertainty in diagnoses.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department recognises the transformative potential of using artificial intelligence (AI) tools in health and care. In May 2024, more than 1.66 million patients were on a waiting list for a diagnostic test in England alone. AI has the potential to reduce this waiting list by ensuring that patients waiting for critical tests for diseases like cancer get faster diagnoses. Earlier diagnosis will, as a result, support better patient outcomes.
For example, in stroke care, a leading cause of death and disability in the United Kingdom, AI tools that are now in place in every stroke unit in England can halve the time it takes some patients to receive treatment. Early results also indicate that using these tools may triple the number of stroke patients achieving functional independence following a thrombectomy, considerably improving patient outcomes.
We are committed to transforming diagnostic services, including through AI tools, and will support the National Health Service to increase diagnostic capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new capacity, including magnetic resonance imaging and CT scanners.
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 achieve a "closer, more mature, more level-headed relationship" with the EU, as outlined by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Department for Business and Trade wants to reset our relationship with the EU and deepen ties with our European neighbours.
The Department will work to improve the UK's trade and investment relationship by tearing down unnecessary barriers to trade.
The Department will seek to negotiate a veterinary agreement to prevent unnecessary border checks, to help touring artists, and to secure mutual recognition for professional qualifications to open up priority markets for service exporters.
The Secretary of State has already held positive discussions with his European Commission counterpart Valdis Dombrovskis and has met with German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck to discuss UK-German shared trade interests.
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 implement strategies to mitigate the risks of labour shortages in the supply chain for infrastructure projects.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel
The Government works with the construction sector, through the Construction Skills Delivery Group, to identify and plan to meet future skills needs in the sector. We also work with the industry to support the development and adoption of digital and industrialised construction techniques, as well as robotics and autonomous systems, which will reduce the labour intensity of the sector.
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 potential impact of the recent performance of the UK stock market on (1) investor confidence, and (2) economic recovery.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The Government does not comment on the day to day performance of the UK’s public markets.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) address, and (2) mitigate, any potential risks associated with falling interest rates; and what assessment they have made of the impact on (a) inflation, (b) consumer spending, (c) and financial market stability.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Monetary policy is the responsibility of the independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), so the Government rightly doesn’t comment on the conduct of monetary policy. The Government fully supports the MPC as it acts to return inflation to target.
The Financial Policy Committee (FPC) is responsible for identifying, monitoring and addressing systemic risks to the UK financial system. Its assessment of the resilience of the system is regularly communicated through the Financial Policy Summary and Record (published quarterly), and Financial Stability Report (published biannually).
The Government constantly monitors the UK economy’s performance and considers its impact on households and businesses.
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 potential impact of unreliable labour market data on the accuracy of inflation forecasts and other economic indicators used for policy formulation.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Falling response rates have caused concern over the quality of Labour Force Survey (LFS) data and led to its suspension in October 2023. Following the return of the LFS in February, these figures are still volatile and, although the Office for National Statistics (ONS) expects to see improvements to survey quality following planned improvements, the estimates will continue to be badged as ‘official statistics in development’ until further review. The ONS recommends using a suite of labour market indicators alongside the LFS estimates.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following Asda's recent announcement about developing a town centre in London, what steps they are taking to support supermarket chains’ initiatives involving mixed-use developments that include housing.
Answered by Baroness Swinburne
This Government strongly encourages the re-use of suitable brownfield land as set out in our National Planning Policy Framework. Making the most effective use of brownfield land, including through mixed use developments, will support the provision of the homes we need, and is key to regenerating our high streets and town centres, supporting economic growth in the hearts of our towns and cities and maximising the use of existing infrastructure.
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 ensure that the competitive landscape of the UK's postal and parcel delivery market (1) remains fair, and (2) does not lead to monopolistic practices post-takeover.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel
Ofcom’s duties, as the independent regulator for postal services, include furthering the interests of citizens and consumers, where appropriate by promoting competition.
Ofcom’s regulatory framework supports competition by imposing minimal intervention in competitive areas of the postal market, for example, in relation to parcel services. Ofcom also requires Royal Mail, as the designated universal service provider, to allow access to its network for the provision of certain bulk letter and large letter services and impose a number of safeguards to protect postal operators reliant on this access.