Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Artificial Intelligence: Public Services

Thursday 18 January 2024 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Chris Stephens asked about discussions with Cabinet colleagues on AI impact on public services.
  • The Minister confirmed regular discussions and the launch of an AI Incubator.
  • Chris Stephens raised concerns about AI replacing civil service jobs, to which the Minister responded that the aim is to enhance civil servants' efficiency for public benefit.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Stephens SNP
NHS Science & Technology
Context

The MP raised concerns about the potential impacts of artificial intelligence in delivering public services.

Question

Whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the use of AI on the delivery of public services. I join others in paying tribute to the great Sir Tony Lloyd; our thoughts and prayers are with his family today.

Answer from Oliver Dowden

I discuss this area regularly with Cabinet colleagues. The Incubator for Artificial Intelligence, which I announced last year, will recruit experts from the private sector, academia and beyond, who will work with Departments to rapidly and responsibly develop new applications for artificial intelligence across Government, as part of radical plans to harness the potential of AI to improve lives and public services.

Answered
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Q2 Chris Stephens SNP
Science & Technology Children & Families
Context

The MP highlighted concerns about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence, referencing a childcare benefit scandal in the Netherlands where racial profiling was incorporated into AI systems.

Question

I thank the Minister for his answer. As the Government have started work on an artificial intelligence hit squad to eliminate civil service jobs and replace human labour, it is of urgent importance that they lay out the safeguards they will enact. The childcare benefit scandal in the Netherlands in 2021, where artificial intelligence baked in racial profiling that discriminated against minorities, highlights the necessity of strict controls and protections, so will the Minister reveal what steps they are taking to prevent the harmful use of artificial intelligence?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

It is not the case that this is about taking jobs off civil servants; it is to enable them to do their jobs better and more efficiently for the benefit of the public we serve in this place. In respect of the measures that we are taking to ensure that we follow best practice, the Government's Central Digital and Data Office is ensuring a high delivery of quality and regular testing of that software throughout all stages of development. In addition, there is a service assessment model, so we are taking a number of steps to ensure that we guard against the risks that the hon. Gentleman highlights.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP asked for details on specific safeguards but received general statements about quality assurance and testing without concrete measures or timelines.

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