Written questions by Hayes.

For what purposes the UK Health Security Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has focused artificial intelligence (AI) on both internal operational improvements and on external interventions, to enhance the United Kingdom’s health security.UKHSA toxicologists have installed and are testing a cutting-edge commercial system integrating advanced data analytics with AI to detect airborne pollen in real-time. Further information is available at the following link:https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2024/09/11/how-cutting-edge-ai-technology-could-hold-the-key-to-forecasting-the-pollen-count/The UKHSA has also successfully deployed one of its AI projects to the Tuberculosis (TB) Unit. This system enhances the manual review of country-of-origin documentation to identify those born in high-risk countries who are eligible for TB screening in the UK. The system is being trialled alongside standard practice to test performance and quantify the benefits that it brings.The UKHSA has implemented governance structures to ensure the use of AI aligns to cross-Government guidance and the agency’s mission. In May 2024, details of a UKHSA Advisory Board paper on AI was shared on GOV.UK website, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukhsa-advisory-board-agenda/ukhsa-advisory-board-artificial-intelligence

Communities and Local Government, for what purposes HM Land Registry has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

HM Land Registry is exploring the potential of Artificial Intelligence to deliver the outcomes set out in the blueprint for modern digital government published on 21 January 2025. The policy paper can be found on gov.uk here.

For what purposes the Competition and Markets Authority has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) is as the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country. Internally, the Competition and Markets Authority (the “CMA”) works with AI in two important and mutually reinforcing ways. Firstly, the CMA carries out research into AI – including hands-on technical work – to ensure it has a strong technical understanding of frontier technologies, can assess their implications for consumers and competition, and ensure its work helps unlock the AI opportunity for the UK. Secondly, the CMA pilots and implements uses of AI internally as part of its digital transformation, with the aims of enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the CMA’s frontline work, horizon scanning, cases and investigations – as well as to transform day-to-day operational productivity. Over the last 12 months the CMA has used AI in a range of ways to serve these purposes. This includes testing off-the-shelf AI tools for day-to-day operational productivity and cyber security, as well as developing and piloting more bespoke in-house applications of generative AI to support horizon scanning, market monitoring, and analysis on cases and investigations. The CMA draws on a range of resources to inform its use of AI including internal and external expertise from across academia, industry, international counterparts and the wider public sector. This includes utilising resources on GOV.UK, such as the Generative AI Framework, and liaising with the Government Digital Service and the Department for Business and Trade.

For what purposes the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

During 2024, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) identified 20 artificial intelligence (AI) use-cases for prototyping with different technologies with different AI paradigms.The use-cases range from productivity through to decision making, across all areas of the business, including communications, customer services, and helpdesks, as well as across the regulatory activities for the whole product lifecycle, including post-market surveillance. MHRA technical specialists have collaborated closely with science, health, and regulation subject matter experts to produce the first batch of AI prototypes.As a result of the successful outcomes in the prototyping phases, the team is now considering next steps in productionising the prototypes, whilst maintaining safety and efficacy. The work takes a risk-proportionate approach, tailored to each use-case, rather than a one size fits all risk-averse blanket approach to all scenarios.

For what purposes the National Infrastructure Commission has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

The National Infrastructure Commission have used AI as a tool to improve the efficiency of their analysis and modelling, which has reduced the need for external contractors.

How many primary school breakfast clubs she plans to introduce in Lincolnshire.

The government is committed to offering a free breakfast club in every state-funded school with primary-aged pupils in England.

For what purposes the Money and Pensions Service has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country. The Money and Pensions Service monitors developments in AI policy and practice to understand the potential impact on financial guidance provision and broader financial service experience. A limited number of people within the organisation are using Microsoft CoPilot, with strong safeguards in place. MaPS is also testing conversational AI Copilots to support colleagues who provide our guidance services. These are not currently live.

For what purposes the Office of Rail and Road has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is exploring how best it can use AI in a way that improves efficiency and effectiveness without compromising quality, confidentiality or security. The organisation is also exploring how AI might be used in the rail and road sectors, and any implications for its regulatory work. ORR staff are able to use generative AI services with data that is already in the public domain such as enhanced search and summarisation, and initial thinking on documents/emails/presentations in accordance with the guidance to civil servants on their use. For uses that involve non-public information, staff require authorisation. Authorised uses over the last 12 months have been:· Communications work using the Government Communication Service specific generative AI tool.· A pilot exploring the use of a specialist app to produce videos using AI generated avatars and copy· A pilot exploring whether an AI tool can support the creation of formal minutes, and which tool is most effective· A pilot using machine learning techniques to analyse underlying causes of performance issues on the railway· Pilots exploring using AI to search internal documentation for specific purposes.

For what purposes the National Crime Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

The NCA is working on a number of productivity improvements using AI.Examples include piloting automation for case management of investigations and automating back-end processes in the areas of Human Resources and Finance.

For what purposes the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

In November 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published a statement of intent for artificial intelligence (AI). It outlines the NICE’s approach to using AI to streamline its processes and increase efficiency and effectiveness. The NICE currently uses a natural language processing solution to facilitate the searching of its recommendations, and machine learning based text classifiers within its evidence management software. To assist with daily tasks, NICE staff have access to Microsoft’s Copilot, and the NICE communications team is trialling the Government Communications Service’s Assist tool. Further information on the NICE’s statement of intent for AI is available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/corporate/ecd12/chapter/purpose-of-this-document

For what purposes the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

MCA are using Microsoft 365 Copilot, which is a Generative AI tool for productivity. This tool is being trialled by a selected number of users. Copilot has been used to undertake tasks such as summarising documents, minute taking, report writing and document comparisons. AI is not currently in use within the MCA systems or for any citizen services.

For what purposes HM Revenue and Customs has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

As a department, over the last 12 months, HMRC has made use of more ‘traditional’ AI techniques to improve operations and drive productivity. HMRC’s current applications of the technology can be divided broadly into supporting compliance, customer service and wider operations: In compliance, HMRC uses tools to predict debt risk and likelihood to pay, identifying the customers we need to give more support to. HMRC uses predictive analytics to identify taxpayers most likely to be non-compliant and document analysis to identify cases of potential fraud. All tools maintain a ‘human in the loop’ to take decisions.In customer services, HMRC uses machine learning techniques to understand, categorise and search customer contact data for identifying sentiment and satisfaction rates. HMRC also use these tools to categorise and group feedback which it can use to improve customer journeys and improve services.In its wider operations, HMRC uses machine learning tools to route inbound correspondence to the right teams and summarise and categorise consultation responses. HMRC also uses recommender systems to identify the most appropriate next action for debt recovery and management and using image detection tools to identify websites making fraudulent use of the HMRC logo.

For what purposes HM Courts and Tribunals Service has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.Work to date has involved early-stage testing of solutions including productivity tools like Microsoft Co-pilot, intelligent document processing, knowledge management and transcription, to help our staff operate effectively and efficiently. However, we currently have no live AI systems in use across our operations and front-line services.A small number of staff are trialling the use of Microsoft 365 Co-pilot as part of a Ministry of Justice wide pilot, looking to reduce time spent on repetitive tasks.HMCTS can draw on a range of resources, published on GOV.UK, to inform AI usage. For example, the Generative AI Ethics Framework, the Ethics, Transparency and Accountability Framework, the Data Ethics Framework, the AI Opportunities Action Plan and the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard.

For what purposes the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that it has not used artificial intelligence over the last 12 months.

Food and Rural Affairs, for what purposes the Rural Payments Agency has used AI in the last 12 months.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country. The Rural Payments Agency participated in a Central Digital and Data Office led cross-government trial of Microsoft’s AI tool called M365 Copilot, which uses generative AI. This trial started on 7 November and ended on 31 December. M365 Copilot was used for limited tasks, such as note-taking or summarising information, to assess how AI can support day-to-day productivity. RPA have a limited number of licences to explore this capability further. All content produced by Co-pilot AI is checked by a human for accuracy. RPA are not currently using Copilot for customer interactions. The Rural Payments Agency have undertaken AI pilots to support remote sensing, monitoring land, and intelligence on flood detection to deliver environmental outcomes for Defra. Two projects are now operational that use AI and satellite imagery to classify crop types across England and a system to detect flooding on agricultural land. We publish information about algorithmic tools we develop, where they are used in decision-making processes that affect members of the public, using the Algorithm Transparency Recording Standard. The new Government will now examine the findings to inform the next stages of the strategy.

For what purposes the Crown Prosecution Service has used AI in the last 12 months.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is exploring new and existing technologies, including AI, to enhance efficiency. AI has the potential to support the CPS day-to-day in the delivery of justice. I am keen to explore the opportunities for efficiency that this new technology can bring, being mindful of ethical considerations.A pilot of Microsoft Copilot concluded in August 2024, with approximately over 400 staff across the organisation given access to Copilot to assist them in everyday tasks such as summarising emails, creating PowerPoint presentations, and analysing excel data.The scheme established that that Copilot reduced the amount of time it took staff to complete administrative and day-to-day tasks and has the capacity to save thousands of hours across the organisation.

For what purposes the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

In the last 12 months the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has used artificial intelligence (AI) for the following purposes: A limited form of AI has been used by the DVLA’s contact centre in the form of a Chatbot.The Drivers Medical team use a form of AI on a small number of cases. However, it is important to note that a decision on whether to issue a driving licence in these cases is always made by a staff member.An AI solution is used to develop in-house training courses.AI is used to assist with cyber security threat detection and analysis.

Media and Sport, how much funding her Department has provided to youth groups in South Holland and the Deepings constituency in the two latest periods for which data is available; and if she will take steps to increase that funding.

DCMS has not directly provided funding to youth groups for youthwork activities in the South Holland and the Deepings constituency. Local authorities hold the statutory duty to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient provision of educational and recreational leisure-time activities for young people in their area.The National Youth Strategy will be co-produced with young people and the youth sector to ensure it meets the needs of young people right across the country. This Government is also committed to tackling barriers to opportunity for all young people through the Opportunity Mission.

Media and Sport, for what purposes The National Archives has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.The National Archives has used artificial intelligence for over the past 12 months and its officials have, with robust safeguards, piloted the use of AI in several areas, seeking to:Speed up office-based tasks. For example, piloting the transcription of some internal meetings and summarising texts.Improve public services. For example, investigating creating short summaries of record descriptions for the online catalogue and identifying amendments and enabling powers in legislation on legislation.gov.uk.Support the government to better manage its information. For example, investigating AI tools to aid officials in the appraisal, selection and sensitivity review of digital records before their transfer for preservation at The National Archives.Aid research into historical records. For example, transcribing handwritten and printed text in historical records.The National Archives can draw on a range of resources, published on GOV.UK, to inform AI usage. For example the Generative AI Framework, the Ethics, Transparency and Accountability Framework, the Data Ethics Framework and the AI Opportunities Action Plan.The National Archives also has access to the Government Digital Service, part of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, for expert advice.

For what purposes the Serious Fraud Office has used AI in the last 12 months.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.During the past 12 months, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has been trialling the use of Technology Assisted Review (TAR), utilising AI, on a live criminal case. The trial demonstrated that TAR could help meet legal disclosure obligations more efficiently.The trial adhered to relevant disclosure guidelines and officials are still making the decisions on what is in fact relevant and what is disclosed.Following the success of the trial, the SFO is planning to use TAR in more SFO cases in the future.