Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) attract, and (2) retain, top AI professionals in the UK.

Government is committed to ensuring there is a sustainable pipeline of skills workers. Since 2018 we have invested £290 million in AI skills and talent initiatives. This includes the funding of AI and Data Science Conversion Courses scholarships for underrepresented groups.

The AI Futures programme helps attract top early to mid-career AI talent from around the world to the UK, including through a grants scheme which supports universities and SMEs to meet relocation costs of exceptional AI researchers and engineers.

We also help UK tech companies access world-class talent through the Global Talent Visa and the Scaleup Worker Visa.