Andrew Griffith

All ministers in the department work as a team and support one another because we achieve far more by our common endeavour than we do by going it alone.

Artificial Intelligence is at the heart of the UK Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.

The Secretary of State for the Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology, tasked Matt Clifford with developing an action plan to identify how AI can drive economic growth and deliver better outcomes for people across the country.

The government is supporting research on advanced communications via the £70m Future Telecoms Technology Missions Fund, delivered by UKRI. This includes research into AI for telecoms.

Information on connectivity on a constituency-by-constituency basis across the UK is available from the local broadband tracker on ThinkBroadband: https://labs.thinkbroadband.com

Promoting Digital Inclusion is a priority for me and for Government, which is why we believe it was a disgrace that the previous government did not introduce a new digital exclusion strategy for ten years. Digital inclusion is essential to our Missions, particularly in breaking down barriers to opportunity across the UK and kickstarting economic growth by involving more people in the digital economy. Any announcement about inter-ministerial groups will be made in the usual way, but work is ongoing to develop our approach to digital inclusion and ensure coordination across government departments. This will not just involve ministers talking to each other, but effective action to tackle exclusion.

The Secretary of State for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology is in regular discussion with the UK Space Agency, our key delivery partner, about Scotland's growing space sector as we recognise its crucial role in delivering our national ambitions for space. The UKSA has also opened an office in Scotland which shows its commitment to support the growth of the Scottish space sector.

The government recognises the need to act to both unlock the opportunities of quantum computing and also address the potential risks of this technology.

DSIT works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre to identify the mitigations that are required against the cryptography risks posed by quantum computers.

Following the publication of Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC) standards this summer, NCSC has published details of how it will help organisations plan their migration to PQC. This complements existing cyber security guidance for data security.

NCSC will release further communications over the coming months and continue supporting regulators, such as the Information Commissioner’s Office, to manage these risks within their remits.

The contract was procured by the Government Property Agency through a framework (CCS RM6088, Construction Works and Associated Services, Lot 5, Construction Works & Associated Services (£80m+) National Framework) which was itself advertised. As part of this process, contractors on the framework were notified of the opportunity to tender. This approach is in line with The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and usual construction industry practice.

The contract is subject to an ongoing commercial process, and it would therefore not be appropriate to share construction cost estimates.

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave to question 8498.

The Secretary of State met with the European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders on 16 September and 15 October to discuss a new Data Bill and the importance of efficient and safe personal data sharing between our two jurisdictions.

Half.

No.

The Secretary of State for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has been in contact with the Information Commissioner regarding the future development of the Information Commission. They met on 30 July and discussed the Digital Information and Smart Data Bill announced in the King’s Speech, and its implications for the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

The government response to the Regulatory Horizons Council review outlines a phased and proportionate approach towards quantum regulation in order to support the responsible development of the sector. This includes:

• Influencing industry-led standards and international governance frameworks
• Convening a Quantum Regulators Forum to increase the understanding of the opportunities and risks of quantum technologies
• Supporting the development of Responsible Innovation principles through industry-led initiatives such as the Responsible Quantum Industry Forum.

The government will make announcements about other classes of pro-innovation regulatory tools as appropriate.

More broadly, the Regulatory Innovation Office will play a key role in supporting regulators to develop the capability they need to enable innovation and ensuring different regulatory bodies can work together effectively.

The Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) is the Government’s key tool for advancing regulatory innovation. The Government will continue to evaluate timelines, costs, legal considerations, and objectives to ensure the RIO aligns with our transformative goals and delivers effective regulatory solutions.

The launch of the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO), a key manifesto commitment, is a big step forward in bringing the UK’s most promising new technologies to the public faster and safely while kickstarting economic growth. The RIO is committed to ensuring timely regulatory decisions by working closely with regulators and other government departments to unblock regulatory reforms related to technologies and innovation.

The Government is committed to building compute infrastructure that delivers growth and opportunity for people across the UK. My Department and I regularly engage with a range of organisations across the science and research sector, including the University of Edinburgh.

Through the delivery of the UK Biological Security Strategy, the Government is committed ensuring the UK is resilient to a spectrum of biological threats, as well as being a world leader in innovation. As part of this Strategy, the Government is undertaking a programme of work to assess how we can minimise the risks from biological data to protect our burgeoning bioeconomy and build confidence in sharing personal data to improve health outcomes in the UK and across the world.

The Government is actively engaging with Genomics England, UK Biobank, NIHR Bioresource and Our Future Health to build the security and resilience of our genome banks.

Through the delivery of the UK Biological Security Strategy, the Government is committed ensuring the UK is resilient to a spectrum of biological threats, as well as being a world leader in innovation. As part of this Strategy, the Government is undertaking a programme of work to assess how we can minimise the risks from biological data to protect our burgeoning bioeconomy and build confidence in sharing personal data to improve health outcomes in the UK and across the world.

I am actively engaging with relevant Cabinet colleagues on this issue, through the relevant national security structures.

A date has still to be arranged, but I intend to visit as soon as possible.

The Department of Science and Innovation and Technology regularly consults the National Quantum Technologies Programme Strategic Advisory Board (SAB) on all aspects of the National Quantum Strategy, including regulation.

SAB members have advised on and inputted into the government response to the Regulatory Horizons Council (RHC) report on quantum regulation.

Officials in my department have also consulted with a wide range of industry representatives from the quantum sector ahead of publication to ensure that the government’s regulatory strategy enables innovation in quantum.

DSIT has not announced any intention to publish a new National Vision for Engineering Biology.

Since taking office, I have been in contact and exchanged views on the UK-China Science and Technology relationship with Minister Yin Hejun, my counterpart in China’s Ministry of Science and Technology.

The Digital Centre Design Advisory Panel has been established to advise, test ideas and constructively challenge our thinking as we develop the new digital centre of government.

DSIT selected individuals who bring a diverse set of views and experience from across the UK tech sector, academics, digital government, regional growth and international voices, including co-chairs Martha Lane Fox and Paul Willmott.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology published a Position Paper (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-position-on-eus-research-and-innovation-framework-programme) outlining the Government's views on FP10 on 26 September 2024.

As set out in the paper, the Government recognises the importance of collaboration with European counterparts on research and innovation. To that end, the Secretary of State wrote to the European Research Commissioner to confirm the paper’s publication and our desire to engage with the EU on the development of FP10. In addition, Minister Vallance has met with the Commissioner and spoken with Manuel Heitor (chair of the expert group for Horizon Europe and FP10). The DSIT CSA was also in Brussels earlier this week discussing FP10 with counterparts. The Government is keen to continue working with the EU, Member States and third countries to ensure FP10 can best address pressing global problems and directly improve people’s lives.