AI: Cross-sector Legislation

Lord Holmes of Richmond Excerpts

Tuesday 29th April 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Holmes of Richmond]

To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they plan to introduce cross-sector legislation on artificial intelligence in 2025.

[The Minister of State, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (Lord Vallance of Balham) (Lab)]

The Government remain committed to bringing forward AI legislation to realise the enormous benefits of this technology in a safe manner. We are continuing to refine our proposals to deliver this, ensuring that they are proportionate and incentivise investment and innovation. We will launch a consultation later this year. Most AI systems are already regulated at the point of use by the UK’s existing regulators. In response to the AI action plan, the Government are committed to working with regulators to support them in boosting their capabilities.

[Lord Holmes of Richmond (Con)]

My Lords, last month I published a report making the case for cross-sector AI legislation. Is it not clear that AI is already impacting, positively and otherwise, cross-sector, cross-society and cross-economy? If we do not have a cross-sector approach through legislation, how will we enable the clarity, the certainty and the consistency of approach which will bring forward the confidence to enable innovation and investment—good for citizen, good for consumer, good for creative, good for British business and good for our country?

[Lord Vallance of Balham (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord for his question and enjoyed reading his report very much. There are three ways in which this cross-government AI approach will be looked at. First, as I say, the existing regulators will regulate their own areas. They will also be brought together more. The digital forum already brings together regulators around AI and has been given more money to ensure that the regulators can join up on this. Secondly, the development of assurance tools, which has been outlined in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, will allow us to understand that the actual use of AI is using tools that are validated. There will be a market in making sure that the validation system grows and becomes an important way of assuring users. Thirdly, the consultation around the newer models —advanced general intelligence and superintelligence, as it arrives—will require a cross-cutting general piece of work, which is where the consultation starts later this year.