Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage more investment into new data centres in the UK.

The Government is actively taking steps to remove blocks to the growth of our data centre sector. This includes changes to planning rules, designating the sector as critical national infrastructure (CNI), introducing new legislation to improve security and resilience, and securing more than £25 billion in investment for the sector.

CNI designation signals the Government’s intention to better partner with data centres to promote development that delivers maximum community benefit and mitigation of risks.

Additionally, as part of work to future-proof digital infrastructure, the Government is implementing cross-sectoral power reforms to reduce connection timelines and publishing an AI Opportunities Action Plan.