House of Commons Science and Technology Committee (committee id 135; formerly the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee)

Ce qu'il fait

Scrutinises DSIT — and therefore the AI Security Institute — its policy, administration and spending. Conducts inquiries, takes oral and written evidence, summons ministers and officials, and publishes reports to which the Government must respond within 60 days. It cannot legislate, fine or compel a private party in practice, but it can compel the attendance of officials and extract documents, and its reports set the terms of UK AI debate. Recent and current inquiries have included Low-energy computing (opened 16 April 2026), Neuroscience and digital childhoods (24 March 2026), Digital centre of government (3 February 2025), and Science diplomacy (3 April 2025).

Ses responsabilités en matière d'IA

Commons departmental select committee for science, research and technology policy. Following the abolition of DSIT in July 2026 its title reverted to 'Science and Technology Committee'. It scrutinises AI research, compute, AI in government, and has written to Government on UK AI sovereignty (letter reported 15 September 2026). Its live inquiries touch AI obliquely rather than head-on: 'Low-energy computing' (opened 16 April 2026) and 'Neuroscience and digital childhoods' (opened 24 March 2026).

Ses pouvoirs

investigate

Évaluation franche

THIS IS THE UK'S BEST PUBLIC ROUTE and the clearest example of the contrast the question draws. Written evidence to an open select committee inquiry is read by the committee's specialist advisers and clerks, published under your name, indexed, quoted in the report, and cited afterwards by others — unlike a ministerial inbox, which produces a templated reply. Practitioner guidance (UCL Public Policy and others) converges on: keep it short and structured with numbered recommendations, answer the committee's published terms of reference point by point, submit before the deadline, and — the step most people skip — contact the clerk beforehand to check scope and signal availability to give oral evidence. The clerk, not the chair and not a minister, is the person who matters. Building a relationship with the clerk leads to future opportunities, including being called as a witness.

Travaux en cours

7 open inquiries as at 22 Sep 2026: Low-energy computing; Neuroscience and digital childhoods; Science and regulation of hair and beauty products; Innovation and global food security; Science diplomacy (reported 7 Jul 2026); Digital centre of government (reported 3 Jun 2026); Innovation showcase.

Voie d'accès publique

Submit written evidence to an open inquiry via the secure online portal linked from that inquiry's page. Anyone may submit — no need to be an expert or an organisation.

Règles de format

Usually no more than 3,000 words; numbered paragraphs and headings; single Word/ODT/RTF file, max 25MB; no logos or decorative graphics. Must not have been published elsewhere. Accepted evidence becomes the property of the committee, is published online permanently and forms part of the parliamentary record; you may not republish it yourself until the committee authorises publication.

Personnes clés

George Freeman MP (Con) and Rt Hon Kit Malthouse MP (Con) are the senior opposition members; Dr Allison Gardner MP (Lab) sits on the committee AND chairs the APPG on AI — she is the single most efficient point of contact for AI in the Commons. Other members: Tom Collins, Emily Darlington, Maya Ellis, Samantha Niblett, Freddie van Mierlo (LD), Martin Wrigley (LD), Daniel Zeichner.

Notes

Correct current name is 'Science, Innovation and Technology Committee' (committee ID 135). Do not confuse it with the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee (ID 193), which is a separate body.

Note de recherche

VERIFIED 2026-09-22 from the committee's own membership and news pages. NAME CHANGE: the URL slug still reads 'science-innovation-and-technology-committee' but the page heading and browser title now read 'Science and Technology Committee'. No inquiry with 'AI' in the title is currently open here.