Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026 to question 109652 on Artificial Intelligence, what progress she has made on scaling onshore compute.

Compute is a critical enabler for AI development and scientific research. This Government is committed to scaling this essential infrastructure to accelerate innovation, drive economic growth and better support our public services.We are investing up to £2 billion in public compute through to 2030. This will deliver a new national supercomputer in Edinburgh and expand our AI Research Resource twentyfold by 2030 providing free access to compute for researchers, SMEs and the public sector.The UK has also established five AI Growth Zones, including the Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone, announced this January. We will continue to work with these zones to secure them as the UK's AI powerhouses, as well as identifying new sites around the UK with the potential to become AI Growth Zones.

Innovation and Technology, what information does her Department hold on the number of occasions that Ministers from her Department met with representatives from MBR Acres since 5 July 2024.

The Department has held three Ministerial meetings with MBR since 5 July 2024. All meetings were attended by Minister Vallance. The first took place on 18 July 2025 as part of a wider meeting with Contract Research Organisations (CROs). Further meetings were held on 17 September 2025 and also on 2 October 2025.

Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has made plans for potential uses of the Isambard supercomputer.

This government is committed to harnessing the power of compute to enable innovations that will deliver growth and opportunity and for people across the UK.The AI Research Resource (AIRR) is now live and is free to use for the UK’s scientists, public sector organisations, and start-ups and SMEs. It is made up of two supercomputers: Dawn at Cambridge, and Isambard-AI in Bristol – one of the world’s top 10 public supercomputers and the 4th greenest in the world. As of last month, more than 350 projects are actively running on the Isambard-AI supercomputer.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a Sovereign Frontier Lab.

The Government recognises the importance of building resilience and strategic advantage in frontier AI. While US companies currently provide most frontier model capabilities, our approach is to ensure the UK can access the best global models while safeguarding national interests.We are expanding sovereign capability where it matters most by scaling onshore compute, supporting emerging national champions, and strengthening the UK talent pipeline. Our focus is on areas of the AI value chain where there is the greatest opportunity for the UK to advance its strategic position.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the growth in the availability of open source Chinese AI platforms on the UK.

The Government continues to monitor global developments in AI, including open-source platforms. Open-sourcing AI models decentralises control, enabling more developers to innovate, experiment and deploy systems for diverse purposes.This approach can deliver significant benefits by fostering innovation, competition and transparency. However, decentralisation also introduces security risks. Open model releases may allow malicious actors to remove safeguards and fine-tune models for harmful purposes.Consumers and businesses should choose the AI system most suitable for their purpose, considering whether they trust the organisation hosting the model and handling of potentially sensitive queries. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published guidance to help individuals use AI tools safely, including advice on understanding how personal information is processed and shared.As part of its research to understand the capabilities and impacts of advanced AI and develop and test risk-mitigations, the AI Security Institute (AISI) takes a leading role in safety-testing open and closed AI models wherever they come from.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment has she made of the potential merits of introducing new measures on governing the influence of agentic AI tools.

AI is a general-purpose technology, with a wide range of applications, which is why the UK believes that the vast majority of AI should be regulated at the point of use – including agentic AI tools.A range of existing rules already apply to AI systems, such as data protection, competition, equality legislation, and online safety. In response to the AI Action Plan, the government confirmed it would work with regulators to boost their capabilities.This is complemented by the work of the AI Security Institute, which has deepened our understanding of the critical security risks posed by frontier AI, including agentic AI. We are committed to ensuring our rule book is up to date and future-proofed so the UK is prepared for the changes AI will bring.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2025 to Question 66464 on Submarine Telegraph Act 1885, by when will she have considered whether existing penalties and definitions remain fit for purpose to address modern threats.

Existing penalties for acts of sabotage to submarine cables are significant. Under the National Security Act (NSA) 2023 the sabotage offence carries a maximum penalty of life in prison or a fine, or both, where the activity is conducted for, on behalf of, or for the benefit of a foreign power.Where the foreign power condition cannot be met, the offence under the NSA does not apply, and the penalties available under the Submarine Telegraph Act 1885 are more limited. This is under review.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to page 69 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, on what areas of technology with potential defence interest have the Advanced Research and Invention Agency held recent discussions with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.

As an independent research body custom built to fund high-risk, high-reward scientific research, Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) has autonomy in its project choice and partnerships and has regular discussions with a number of public bodies, including DSTL. ARIA is not currently working on a defence project with DSTL.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of online misinformation spread by AI Large Language Models on social media platforms.

The Government recognises the risks posed by mis- and disinformation on social media, including that which is spread by Large Language Models (LLMs). The Online Safety Act already provides protections against material that is AI-generated, where it is illegal or harmful to children.The Government continues to invest in assessing and countering the risks posed by AI on misinformation. We work with industry, academics and civil society to understand how the risk picture is developing, and to consider options for future mitigations. One example of this is the Deepfake Detection Challenge, co-led by the Home Office and DSIT.

Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the Submarine Telegraph Act 1885.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 17 July 2025 to Question UIN 66464.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress she has made on establishing a clear framework to (a) value and (b) licence public sector data assets.

As the Government outlined in the UK Industrial Strategy, there are significant benefits from the financial, economic, and societal value of the different types of data it holds, and work is ongoing to understand how best to assess that.DSIT is working across departments to fulfil the commitment in the Industrial Strategy by April 2026.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the UK’s level of sovereign compute capacity.

The UK is scaling sovereign compute to protect national interests and unlock growth.In July, DSIT published the Compute Roadmap that sets out how we will significantly bolster compute capacity by 2030. This builds on our commitment during the Spending Review to fund over £1bn to expand the AI Research Resource at least twentyfold by 2030, and up to £750 million for a new national supercomputer in Edinburgh.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress she has made on driving the (a) development and (b) adoption of quantum computers in the UK.

The UK’s National Quantum Computing Mission aims to build a scalable quantum computer within ten years. As part of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy Government has committed to invest £670 million into the development of quantum computing. Details of key milestones and funding programmes under this investment will be published in due course.

Innovation and Technology, what research programmes the Advanced Research and Invention Agency is conducting in Antarctica.

As part of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency’s (ARIA) ‘Scoping Our Planet’ Opportunity Space, ARIA is funding two research projects in Antarctica.The first project aims to assess the role of ocean mixing on Antarctic ice melt and sea level rise. The second project seeks to better understand how glacial meltwater is exported from the Antarctic glacial margins to the open ocean.More information on ARIA’s funded projects can be found on their website.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2025 to Question 75352 on Quantum Technology, where the funding for the adoption of quantum computers is being spent.

As part of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy the Government is allocating £670 million to advance our quantum computing mission, which includes 10-year investment for the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), to drive the adoption of quantum computing.Starting next year, funding will be available to advance a range of activities including building technical capabilities and improving access to quantum computing services.The 10-year funding for the NQCC will support for their flagship work on adoption, which enables applications discovery, supports skills development, and provides opportunities for networking.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to page 25 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what steps she has taken with Ofcom to use the Online Safety Act 2023 in the context of the National Security Strategy.

The government is committed to working with Ofcom to ensure the Online Safety Act is implemented quickly and effectively, recognising its vital role in protecting the public and supporting national security.All services in scope of the Act must comply with illegal content duties and, where relevant, safeguard children from harmful content. The illegal harms codes of practice came into effect in March. Services must take steps to prevent users from encountering illegal content or activity. They must apply additional measures for the most serious and prevalent offences, including child sexual exploitation and abuse, terrorism, and threats to kill.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to page 117 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on ensuring that defence requirements are reflected in cross‑Government efforts to deliver resilient space‑based Positioning, Navigation and Timing systems.

Ministers meet regularly as required to discuss space policy issues, including through the Space Ministerial Forum which includes MOD. MOD continue to work closely with the DSIT National PNT Office who lead on the delivery of the cross-government Policy Framework for Greater Position, Navigation, and Timing Resilience, ensuring that, where appropriate, Defence requirements are reflected in national programmes.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the importance of developing transformative AI capability as a domain of strategic competition.

AI capabilities are developing at an extraordinary pace. AI represents an opportunity to significantly improve the quality of life for ordinary people through economic growth, public service delivery, and scientific discovery. AI can nonetheless exacerbate existing risks and introduce novel risks.The Government continuously assesses the development of AI and its strategic implications, including through the work of the AI Security Institute which reports directly to me. AISI has developed world leading technical expertise which informs the Government’s understanding of AI and our strategy to seize its opportunities and address its risks.This Government is realising the benefits of AI through delivery of the AI Opportunities Action Plan. In an AI-enabled world, it matters who influences and builds the models, data and AI infrastructure that are increasingly present in our lives. This is why as part of the Action Plan we have established a Sovereign AI Unit with up to £500m in funding to ensure we have world-leading companies operating in critical AI domains.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to page 34 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published on 24 June 2025, what recent progress she has made on negotiating a new science and technology partnership with the US.

During President Donald Trump’s State Visit in September 2025, the Government announced a landmark Technology Prosperity Deal (TPD), in the form of an MoU, which commits the UK and US to collaborate in areas such as AI, nuclear energy and quantum technologies. This partnership will build our capabilities to solve some of the greatest challenges we face today, driving investment and expertise between our leading science and growth hubs, delivering cheap, reliable energy and creating new high skilled jobs.

Innovation and Technology, what her responsibilities are as electromagnetic spectrum policy lead.

The Secretary of State holds overall responsibility for DSIT, the lead department for spectrum policy. Ofcom manages spectrum under two Acts of Parliament (the Communications Act 2003 and the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006).The Secretary of State directs Ofcom on matters of strategic importance to the Government and provides policy steers through levers including the Statement of Strategic Priorities (SSP) for telecommunications and spectrum, which Ofcom must have regard for when exercising its functions.Ofcom also represents the UK at international negotiations on spectrum use, including the World Radio Conference (WRC), and the UK’s positions are informed by government through DSIT.