Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps they are taking to use (a) artificial intelligence and (b) data to help increase their Department's productivity.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office is committed to improving its productivity, including through artificial intelligence (AI) and effective use of data.
The Cabinet Office Data Strategy promotes the use of high quality data and analytics to gain insights that drive decision making and operational effectiveness.
In parallel, we are growing the department’s AI capabilities through the design and application of a range of solutions, including Redbox which is a tool to help staff perform research, drafting and reviewing faster, reducing administrative burdens and improving response times for stakeholders. Other solutions are also in development (e.g. machine learning applications and generative AI) to automate and accelerate routine business operations and policy activity.
We draw on a range of resources, published on GOV.UK, to inform our AI and data usage. For example, the Generative AI Framework, the Data Maturity Assessment, the Ethics, Transparency and Accountability Framework, the Data Ethics Framework, and the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard.
The department also has access to the Central Digital & Data Office, based in the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, for expert advice.
We will continue to regularly review our usage of AI and data to maximise productivity benefits for staff and the public.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps they are taking to use (a) artificial intelligence and (b) data to help increase their Department's productivity.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is committed to improving its productivity, including through artificial intelligence and effective use of data.
We draw on a range of resources, published on GOV.UK, to inform our AI and data usage. For example, the Generative AI Framework, the Data Maturity Assessment, the Ethics, Transparency and Accountability Framework, the Data Ethics Framework, and the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard.
The department also has access to the Central Digital & Data Office for expert advice.
We will continue to regularly review our usage of AI and data to maximise productivity benefits for staff and the public.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps they are taking to use (a) artificial intelligence and (b) data to help increase their Department's productivity.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Treasury (HMT) is committed to improving its productivity, including through artificial intelligence (AI) and the effective use of data.
HMT is implementing a multi-year Data and AI Strategy to make sure it adopts a modern data platform, upskills its people in good data management, and implements ethical and sustainable AI use. The department has established a dedicated Data Science Hub, which provides data and AI tools and a dedicated data management function.
HMT is undertaking this in partnership with broader cross-governmental networks and private sector collaborations, to identify potential opportunities for cooperation and to address security risks associated with technological advancements.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps they are taking to use (a) artificial intelligence and (b) data to help increase their Department's productivity.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
MHCLG is committed to improving its productivity, including through artificial intelligence and effective use of data.
MHCLG’s Foundational AI Team is currently in the group testing phase of introducing a licensed version of Microsoft’s Copilot to staff. This initiative is designed to evaluate the outcome of integrating Copilot into our department’s workflow to evaluate its effectiveness in enhancing productivity and collaboration. Staff involved in this testing phase are participating in periodic surveys and evaluation meetings so we can measure both the impact to productivity and staff satisfaction with Copilot’s current capabilities. If the testing phase is a success, we will consider a wider deployment to the department that is supported by appropriate evidence and business cases.
The MHCLG’s Foundational AI Team is also exploring the in-house design and production of dedicated AI chatbot tools tailored to be used with specific sets of data and information that the department holds. These tools would be configured to use data from specific documents and datasets, making them highly responsive in individual areas of MHCLG’s work.
To ensure this and other AI work across the entire department is done safely and securely, we are also refreshing the department's internal generative AI policy to make sure it is up to date regarding the use of sensitive data by staff.
We will continue to regularly review our usage of AI and data to maximise productivity benefits for staff and the public.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps they are taking to help increase productivity within their Department through the use of (a) artificial intelligence and (b) effective use of data.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department is committed to improving its productivity, including through artificial intelligence (AI) and effective use of data.
For example, a Microsoft Azure Open AI sandbox environment has been enabled to limited groups of users within the department, allowing them to build and test AI models based on specific use cases in a safe and secure environment. This has allowed the department to safely and securely test 12 use cases ahead of a launch into production and wider rollout to our workforce. If testing goes well, newly-developed technologies are expected to be rolled out to staff from December 2024. We believe these will be amongst the first bespoke generative AI tools launched in government and will allow the department to deliver its services to the public at a faster pace and lower cost.
The department is also mid-way through the migration of its analysts to the new Analytical Data Access service, giving analysts and policy teams a single point of access to key departmental data. This data is fully governed, secure and discoverable using the latest cloud technology tools. This is significantly improving the speed and reliability of the department’s data to better inform holistic policy and funding considerations, and support scenario planning. It also provides a secure environment for utilising AI and large language models, where both lawful and ethical.
The department draws on a range of resources, published on GOV.UK, to inform its AI and data usage, for example, the Generative AI Framework and the Ethics, Transparency and Accountability Framework. We also work closely with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to widen access to the data we are responsible for via the existing ONS Secure Research Service, and are also partnering with the ONS to support development and integration of department data into the new Integrated Data Service.
The department also has access to the Central Digital and Data Office, based in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, for expert advice. We will continue to regularly review our usage of AI and data to maximise productivity benefits for staff and the public.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps they are taking to use (a) artificial intelligence and (b) data to help increase their Department's productivity.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office manages directly, and on behalf of operational partners, significant data assets measured in the tens of billions of rows of data and millions of data subjects. This data is used every day to deliver public services, manage performance and deliver insight into policies. Its careful use, including sharing with key partners, supports the delivery of the government’s objectives as a whole.
We are moving much of this data off legacy systems, including some up to 50 years old, and on to modern platforms. This is enabling improvement in the productivity of key operational activities, better performance management and improved strategic analysis. This is part of a broader programme of technology-enabled business change that supports productivity enhancements, through optimising business processes and improving safe and secure access to the data that staff need to perform their roles.
We already make use of well-established artificial intelligence and automation enabled systems within the Home Office to improve business delivery as part of overall digital improvements in the department. In addition, we are running a small number of Generative AI trials to test their potential for productivity and quality improvements. These are supported by changes in our processes and policies, to ensure appropriate guidance and controls are in place for responsible adoption.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to improve information sharing between emergency services on hoax callers.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
Making a hoax phone call to the emergency services is a criminal offence. All calls to the emergency services are recorded and the number can be traced, even if withheld. Local services regularly remind the public of the serious consequences of hoax calls.
Emergency services may also request a Communications Provider to place a temporary restriction on the account of the hoax/nuisance caller. However, contact management, including the management of hoax calls, is an operational matter for services.
There are existing mechanisms in place for emergency services to share information on hoax callers. The decision to share data and take or request further action is an operational one for services.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help reduce the number of hoax calls to the emergency services.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
Making a hoax phone call to the emergency services is a criminal offence. All calls to the emergency services are recorded and the number can be traced, even if withheld. Local services regularly remind the public of the serious consequences of hoax calls.
Emergency services may also request a Communications Provider to place a temporary restriction on the account of the hoax/nuisance caller. However, contact management, including the management of hoax calls, is an operational matter for services.
There are existing mechanisms in place for emergency services to share information on hoax callers. The decision to share data and take or request further action is an operational one for services.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average cost is of hoax calls made to the (a) police and (b) fire service.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not hold this data.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to help increase productivity within his Department through the use of (a) artificial intelligence and (b) effective use of data.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS is committed to improving its productivity, including through artificial intelligence and more effective use of data, with projects across our science, analytical and digital functions.
We have a number of initial small-scale AI pilots taking place, to assess potential use cases across the organisation to identify benefits of scaling such tools in the future; for example developing a model to analyse free-text responses to public consultations.
We have also used data analytics to gain insights into spend and outcomes across our sectors and public bodies, helping to better evaluate the effectiveness of our interventions. We are building our data capability to enhance our evidence base, standardise our architecture and infrastructure to expand our ability to use data to generate efficiencies and achieve more impactful outcomes.
We draw on a range of resources, published on GOV.UK, to inform our AI and data usage.
For example, the Generative AI Framework, the Data Maturity Assessment, the government data quality framework, the Code of Practice for Statistics and the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard. The department also has access to the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO), now based in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, for expert advice.
We will continue to regularly review our usage of AI and data to maximise productivity benefits for staff and the public.