Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the development of the United Kingdom’s future AI hardware workforce.

The Government is investing over £80 million through the AI Hardware Plan to build the skilled workforce needed to support the UK’s AI hardware ambitions. This includes a £12 million Doctoral Focal Award for Chip Design, £20 million to expand access to PhD funding through TechFirst, and £48 million for undergraduate bursaries, schools outreach and teaching fellowships. Alongside this investment, we are working with employers and the UK Semiconductor Centre to develop additional routes into semiconductor and AI hardware careers, helping to build the pipeline of scientists, engineers and technicians the sector needs.