Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the Defence AI Skills Framework.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The development of a Defence AI Skills Framework is underway, and we expect work to accelerate following the recruitment of our Capability Lead for AI Talent and Skills. We are working closely with Digital Skills for Defence (DS4D) and other key stakeholders to ensure coherence with other complimentary skills frameworks within the department, but also across government and with allies.
Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Artificial Intelligence Strategy, published on 15 June 2022, whether his Department has appointed a Head of AI Profession.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence AI Centre (DAIC) is currently onboarding a Capability Lead, AI Talent and Skills. They are expected to be in post in quarter 2 of this financial year.
This individual will work with colleagues across Government to advance the AI skills agenda while also exploring novel ways to attract talent into the department.
Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence during the debate on Nuclear Test Veterans: Medical Records of 28 November 2023, Official Report, column 245WH, whether his Department has examined the 150 Atomic Weapons Establishment files.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I personally examined all 150 records at the Atomic Weapons Establishment on 18 March. I will update the House on plans for their release in due course.
Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of defence capabilities in his Department incorporate artificial intelligence as of 6 March 2024.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The term Artificial Intelligence includes a broad family of technologies (from advanced automation to machine learning or symbolic logic-based systems), some of which have been in widespread use for decades. It is therefore not possible to provide accurate statistics on the proportion of Defence capabilities that incorporate such technologies.
While the Defence AI Centre is monitoring over 250 R&D projects across Ministry of Defence that apply different AI technologies to their respective context, we do not currently collect statistics on the proportion undertaken by SMEs. Work is underway to better understand our total AI investment across the Defence enterprise; over time this should allow more granular reporting of supplier metrics.
Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of AI-related projects in his Department are undertaken by SMEs.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The term Artificial Intelligence includes a broad family of technologies (from advanced automation to machine learning or symbolic logic-based systems), some of which have been in widespread use for decades. It is therefore not possible to provide accurate statistics on the proportion of Defence capabilities that incorporate such technologies.
While the Defence AI Centre is monitoring over 250 R&D projects across Ministry of Defence that apply different AI technologies to their respective context, we do not currently collect statistics on the proportion undertaken by SMEs. Work is underway to better understand our total AI investment across the Defence enterprise; over time this should allow more granular reporting of supplier metrics.
Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what benchmark criteria his Department is using to assess the effectiveness of implementation of the Defence Artificial Intelligence Strategy, published in June 2022.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence is developing specific targets for core enablers that are necessary to adopt AI at scale across the organisation (people, processes, technology, and data). The AI Delivery Group (AIDG) - chaired by our Second Permanent Secretary - is overseeing this work, balancing centrally driven activities with the recognition that some areas of Defence will move faster than others and we cannot risk stifling the pace of innovation through an overly regimented programme management approach.
Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the number of merchant seafarer (a) ratings and (b) officers working for external employers other than the Royal Fleet Auxiliary to deliver contracts with his Department.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary has seconded fewer than five external ratings and fewer than five external officers to deliver specialist roles alongside its own employees.
Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence of 28 November 2023, Official Report, column 246WH, if his Department will provide the 150 Atomic Weapons Establishment files to the Defence Select Committee with personal details redacted.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I have asked officials to review the 150 items and provide them to me. I will then personally assess them and consider their release into the public domain, as I committed to do during the debate on Nuclear Test Veterans: Medical Records on 28 November (Official Report, column 245WH).
Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence during the debate on Nuclear Test Veterans: Medical Records of 28 November 2023, Official Report, column 245WH, when his Department plans to examine the 150 Atomic Weapons Establishment files.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I have asked officials to review the 150 items and provide them to me. I will then personally assess them and consider their release into the public domain, as I committed to do during the debate on Nuclear Test Veterans: Medical Records on 28 November (Official Report, column 245WH).
Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many initial army training staff were (a) investigated for and (b) convicted of sexual offences against recruits under the age of 18 in the last three years.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.