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 that the AI Adoption Plan for professional and business services reaches small and medium-sized businesses in deprived constituencies such as Glasgow South West.

The Government is committed to ensuring the UK is the fastest AI adopting country in the G7, and to making sure the benefits are felt in every part of the country.

The Government has committed more than £200 million to help companies in Britain adopt AI, including through an expansion of Innovate UK’s BridgeAI programme. In June, the Government published the AI Champions’ AI Adoption plans, including the Professional and Business Services AI Adoption Plan, which sets out recommendations to accelerate AI adoption across the sector, including encouraging adoption amongst SMEs. The Government is continuing to work with the AI Champions to help turn these plans into action.