Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Leong on 3 February (HL Deb col 1434) about the use of the SPACE framework to ensure safety, transparency and accountability for AI, in which publication, document or statement they set out that approach; and what activity they have taken to implement it.

The Government’s response to the AI Opportunities Action Plan outlines our regulatory approach to strengthening AI safety, security and robustness. We have accepted - and are acting on - recommendations to enhance regulatory capabilities. We have also announced a new Centre for AI Measurement to develop new AI assurance tools and strengthen the UK AI Assurance ecosystem; committed to ensuring that the AI Security Institute has the ability to deliver on its responsibilities, is trusted by others, and works well with partners; and concluded a call for evidence on the AI Growth Lab, a cross-economy AI sandbox, to inform further development, and identify priority areas for its focus.

The Regulatory Innovation Office supports the government’s pro‑innovation approach to regulation by working with businesses and regulators to cut approval times for innovation and technologies while maintaining safety and public confidence. The Regulatory Innovation Office also coordinates cross‑government action to remove regulatory barriers to growth.

Through such initiatives, the Government has taken important steps to ensure that most AI systems are already regulated at the point of use by our existing expert regulators. We are closely following how the technology develops, and where further action may be required.