Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure AI skills programmes such as TechLocal and the AI apprenticeship reach young people not in education, employment or training in Glasgow South West constituency.

The Government is committed to ensuring that people across the UK can benefit from the opportunities created by artificial intelligence, including those who are not currently in education, employment or training.

Through the £187 million TechFirst programme, we are creating new pathways into technical and AI-related careers. This includes TechLocal, which is helping employers across UK communities fill or create technical jobs and supporting the development of AI-focused professional courses, graduate traineeships and work experience opportunities.

The Government is also delivering the national AI Skills Boost campaign to upskill 10 million workers, which provides free access to foundational AI training and is designed to be accessible to people across the UK, including those who may otherwise face barriers to acquiring AI skills.

These programmes are available across the UK, including in Scotland, and we will continue to work with employers, training providers and local partners to support participation from under-represented groups and help ensure that opportunities created by AI are accessible to people in constituencies such as Glasgow South West.