Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how the Government Office for Artificial Intelligence plans to improve diversity in the artificial intelligence workforce.

We will work with industry, with research and teaching institutions, and with organisations with relevant expertise, to identify what measures (in the UK and in other countries) are most effective in increasing diversity in this workforce, and we will work with partners to promote best practice.

We already work with industry to address gender diversity by supporting the Tech Talent Charter, a private sector initiative designed to promote diversity in the tech workforce. Signatories pledge to implement recruitment and retention practices that will address gender imbalances. Over 180 companies, including international tech companies, SMEs, startups and charities have already signed the Charter.