Small and Medium-sized Enterprises: AI Sector

Debate between Lord Leong and Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate

Thursday 29th October 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Leong (Lab)]

The noble Lord is right. We have to invest not only in compute power but in quantum. The Government have set up their programme whereby they will mobilise investment through the sovereign AI fund to invest in some of the supercomputers across the country.

[Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Con)]

My Lords, it is not just a matter of government resources. Many enterprising businesses are now coming into this field. I welcome the work going on in Yorkshire at present, to which the Minister referred. Surely, though, this is to do with even greater encouragement by government of those who are investing, to try to make that sure academia is heavily involved and that all the businesses that are raring to go to develop and innovate in AI are able to do so with full government encouragement.

[Lord Leong (Lab)]

The Government are absolutely encouraging universities and academics to support the Government’s programme on AI. As I said in answer to an earlier question, I have spent the last couple of weeks visiting various universities and science and technology hubs. All of us should really welcome the exciting start-ups being set up at these university science parks. The UK is not short of innovators and we have a pipeline. We will likely see some of our innovators be unicorn companies.

Overseas Companies: UK-registered Subsidiaries

Debate between Lord Leong and Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate

Monday 17th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Leong (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord for that point. The Procurement Act 2023 allows, for the first time ever, the Government to have a list of companies that are debarred from submitting bids for any public contracts. That said, there has always been an exclusion list of companies that have committed fraud or anti-competitive practices. This is done by each individual department. Companies bidding for this will be told that they will not be successful because they are excluded from contracts. We have come a long way from exclusion to debarment, and this list is now in the early stages of being compiled.

[Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Con)]

My Lords, is the Minister satisfied with the criteria deployed in having companies available to tender for public sector work, bearing in mind the failure of a number of leading companies over a number of years that appear to still be available to tender on the Government’s list?

[Lord Leong (Lab)]

That was probably before the Procurement Act. Under the Act, companies that have been excluded will not be allowed to bid for any government contracts. Any companies found to be bid rigging will be debarred from bidding for any public contracts. We have come a long way. The Act has just come into force. Let us allow the Act to take its place and ensure that, whoever bids for the contract, they do so with the value for money that the Government are looking for.