Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

AI Growth Zones

Wednesday 12 February 2025 · 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

  • Lauren Edwards advocated for Rochester and Strood to become an AI growth zone, highlighting existing projects and council initiatives.
  • Sir Jeremy Wright raised concerns about the creative industries' supply of data and content for AI model training.
  • The Minister responded that an ongoing consultation is addressing copyright and AI issues, with a speech on the Data Bill scheduled to provide further details.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Lauren Edwards Lab Rochester and Strood
Economy Science & Technology
Context

Lauren Edwards highlights the strategic location of Rochester and Strood between London and mainland Europe, its existing AI initiatives, and potential for future development.

Question

Rochester and Strood, positioned between London and mainland Europe, is well placed to help drive the UK’s AI economy. We have several net zero energy projects ready to go, with further plans for a data centre and battery storage; a council that is already using AI and which created an AI accelerator programme to support local businesses; and three university campuses that are driving innovation. Will the Minister meet me to discuss my constituency’s potential as a future AI growth zone?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Feryal Clark)

I thank my hon. Friend for strongly advocating for her constituency in Medway to become an AI growth zone. She will well know that the “AI Opportunities Action Plan” outlines the steps we are taking so that the UK can build the cutting-edge computer infrastructure needed to lead in AI development and deployment. I eagerly look forward to reading expressions of interest from hon. Members’ constituencies. I will be more than happy to meet her to discuss this in detail.

Answered
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Q2 Jeremy Wright Con Kenilworth and Southam
Culture, Media & Sport Science & Technology
Context

The MP raises concerns about the creative industries' data being scraped without permission or proper compensation, affecting the growth of AI across the country.

Question

The Minister will be well aware that the growth of AI across the country depends on a ready supply of data and other content on which models can be trained. She will recognise that much of that content comes from our creative industries, and she will know that they are profoundly troubled that they are not being properly treated by the companies currently scraping their data without their permission or without proper compensation. I know that the Government will want to resolve that, and she will know that the Data Bill saw amendments made in the other place to address that. Do the Government intend to resolve this issue by means of the Data Bill or by other means? If by other means, what other means and when?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Feryal Clark)

The right hon. and learned Member will know that there is an ongoing consultation looking at clarifying the copyright and AI issues. There will be a speech this afternoon on the Data Bill that will cover the issue in more detail. As he will also know, the consultation ends on 25 February, after which we will review its responses to see what we need to do.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific commitment or timeline for addressing data scraping issues through legislation is not provided.

How: Under Review, Consultation Ongoing

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