Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps have been taken to ensure that any appointment to lead the Sovereign AI Fund is made on merit through a transparent and open competition, rather than being influenced by personal or political connections, including those linked to former senior political figures.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Managing Partner of the Sovereign AI Fund has been appointed following a three-month, competitive, five-stage recruitment process involving over 60 candidates. The individual was judged to be the strongest candidate on merit against the skills and experience required. This is a Civil Service appointment. Ministers were not involved in the recruitment process and had no decision-making authority over the outcome.
Ministers will set the Fund’s mission, budget and risk appetite, and are accountable to Parliament for the Fund. Investments by the Sovereign AI Fund will be delivered through DSIT’s existing Government-owned company, British Technology Investments (BTI) Ltd and its governance structures. The Sovereign AI Investment Committee, chaired by the Managing Partner, will have delegated authority from the BTI Board to make individual investment and funding decisions to a set limit. The Sovereign AI Investment Committee will report monthly to the British Technology Investments Limited board on investment decisions and wider portfolio performance, and to the Sovereign AI Strategy Board which provides strategic oversight of the whole programme.
As is standard practice, the Managing Partner is recused from decisions which may cross with any real or perceived conflicts in relation to personal or financial interests. These mitigations were discussed in detail and agreed with the DSIT Permanent Secretary.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment has been made of potential conflicts of interest in relation to the proposed appointment of Suzanne Ashman to lead the Sovereign AI Fund, including her previous roles in venture capital and her personal connections, and what mitigation measures are being put in place.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Managing Partner of the Sovereign AI Fund has been appointed following a three-month, competitive, five-stage recruitment process involving over 60 candidates. The individual was judged to be the strongest candidate on merit against the skills and experience required. This is a Civil Service appointment. Ministers were not involved in the recruitment process and had no decision-making authority over the outcome.
Ministers will set the Fund’s mission, budget and risk appetite, and are accountable to Parliament for the Fund. Investments by the Sovereign AI Fund will be delivered through DSIT’s existing Government-owned company, British Technology Investments (BTI) Ltd and its governance structures. The Sovereign AI Investment Committee, chaired by the Managing Partner, will have delegated authority from the BTI Board to make individual investment and funding decisions to a set limit. The Sovereign AI Investment Committee will report monthly to the British Technology Investments Limited board on investment decisions and wider portfolio performance, and to the Sovereign AI Strategy Board which provides strategic oversight of the whole programme.
As is standard practice, the Managing Partner is recused from decisions which may cross with any real or perceived conflicts in relation to personal or financial interests. These mitigations were discussed in detail and agreed with the DSIT Permanent Secretary.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the formal remit, decision-making powers and accountability mechanisms will be for the individual appointed to lead the Sovereign AI Fund, including how they will be held accountable to Ministers and to Parliament.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Managing Partner of the Sovereign AI Fund has been appointed following a three-month, competitive, five-stage recruitment process involving over 60 candidates. The individual was judged to be the strongest candidate on merit against the skills and experience required. This is a Civil Service appointment. Ministers were not involved in the recruitment process and had no decision-making authority over the outcome.
Ministers will set the Fund’s mission, budget and risk appetite, and are accountable to Parliament for the Fund. Investments by the Sovereign AI Fund will be delivered through DSIT’s existing Government-owned company, British Technology Investments (BTI) Ltd and its governance structures. The Sovereign AI Investment Committee, chaired by the Managing Partner, will have delegated authority from the BTI Board to make individual investment and funding decisions to a set limit. The Sovereign AI Investment Committee will report monthly to the British Technology Investments Limited board on investment decisions and wider portfolio performance, and to the Sovereign AI Strategy Board which provides strategic oversight of the whole programme.
As is standard practice, the Managing Partner is recused from decisions which may cross with any real or perceived conflicts in relation to personal or financial interests. These mitigations were discussed in detail and agreed with the DSIT Permanent Secretary.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recruitment process has been followed for the appointment of a Chief Executive or equivalent lead to the Sovereign AI Unit, and whether that process has been conducted in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Managing Partner of the Sovereign AI Fund has been appointed following a three-month, competitive, five-stage recruitment process involving over 60 candidates. The individual was judged to be the strongest candidate on merit against the skills and experience required. This is a Civil Service appointment. Ministers were not involved in the recruitment process and had no decision-making authority over the outcome.
Ministers will set the Fund’s mission, budget and risk appetite, and are accountable to Parliament for the Fund. Investments by the Sovereign AI Fund will be delivered through DSIT’s existing Government-owned company, British Technology Investments (BTI) Ltd and its governance structures. The Sovereign AI Investment Committee, chaired by the Managing Partner, will have delegated authority from the BTI Board to make individual investment and funding decisions to a set limit. The Sovereign AI Investment Committee will report monthly to the British Technology Investments Limited board on investment decisions and wider portfolio performance, and to the Sovereign AI Strategy Board which provides strategic oversight of the whole programme.
As is standard practice, the Managing Partner is recused from decisions which may cross with any real or perceived conflicts in relation to personal or financial interests. These mitigations were discussed in detail and agreed with the DSIT Permanent Secretary.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the government will guarantee that the Sovereign AI Fund will only invest in companies that it reasonably believes adhere to UK copyright law.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Sovereign AI Fund operates on a commercial basis and within the UK’s existing legal framework. Companies supported through Sovereign AI undergo due diligence before receiving funds or other support and are expected to comply with all applicable laws, including UK copyright law.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps are being taken to ensure value for money for taxpayers in the deployment of the £500 million Sovereign AI Fund, and what criteria will be used to assess the Fund’s success in supporting UK-based AI companies.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Delivering value for money for taxpayers is central to the Sovereign AI Fund. This will be assessed through robust monitoring and evaluation against the Fund’s strategic objectives, including its effectiveness in growing and anchoring strategically significant AI companies in the UK, mobilising private capital, and strengthening the wider UK AI ecosystem, alongside standard public money controls and financial oversight.
Equity Investments by the Sovereign AI Fund will be delivered through DSIT’s existing Government-owned company, British Technology Investments (BTI) Ltd and its governance structures. The BTI Board will review the Fund’s performance and the Sovereign AI Strategy Board will provide strategic oversight of the overall programme. The vast majority of individual investment decisions will be taken by an independent Investment Committee with delegated authority from BTI Board. Exceptional cases may be decided on by the BTI Board.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what governance structures are in place to oversee investment decisions made by the Sovereign AI Fund, and what role Ministers, the Department, and the Fund’s Chair will have in approving individual investments.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Delivering value for money for taxpayers is central to the Sovereign AI Fund. This will be assessed through robust monitoring and evaluation against the Fund’s strategic objectives, including its effectiveness in growing and anchoring strategically significant AI companies in the UK, mobilising private capital, and strengthening the wider UK AI ecosystem, alongside standard public money controls and financial oversight.
Equity Investments by the Sovereign AI Fund will be delivered through DSIT’s existing Government-owned company, British Technology Investments (BTI) Ltd and its governance structures. The BTI Board will review the Fund’s performance and the Sovereign AI Strategy Board will provide strategic oversight of the overall programme. The vast majority of individual investment decisions will be taken by an independent Investment Committee with delegated authority from BTI Board. Exceptional cases may be decided on by the BTI Board.