(Con):...Talk to
businessmen and they are more concerned about the fourth industrial
revolution, and the opportunities and threats that it
brings—Artificial Intelligence, data
processing and gene editing. I have just come from the inaugural
meeting of the APPG on Blockchain. We face a thrilling century in a
vibrant world. We can face it from behind the protectionist tariff
walls and harmonised regulatory veils of the EU—where sluggish
legislation is shaped by £1.5 billion of crony capitalist lobbying
a year—or we can face it openly, adopting global standards and
taking decisions that favour innovation rather than retard it. That
does not mean deregulation; it means better regulation. To get
there, we need as a simple exercise of democratic action, to pass
this Bill, which neither gold-plates nor waters down
anything...
(Con):...As we look forward we should recognise that
we will continue to have a huge competitive advantage as a nation
in our culture of innovation, our legal and political systems, our
language, our flexible labour market, our strong and high-value
service sector and our global network—not least with the somewhat
neglected but fast-growing Commonwealth countries. We should see
those countries as our gateway to the future growth economies, not
dismiss them as a relic of the past. All these factors will be
increasingly important advantages for the UK as we move into a new
era where the basis for economic success is transformed by the
revolution in digital technology and Artificial Intelligence. These are areas
where we in the UK are already building a strong entrepreneurial
base. Our success in managing this economic transformation will
have a far greater impact on our future employment and living
standards than the margin of error on current economic forecasts.
It is a much more important area to focus
on...
(Con):...My Lords, I share the views expressed by many
other noble Lords that this is at root an enabling Bill—albeit
one with serious and complex constitutional and societal
implications, as the noble Lord, , reminded us in his
excellent speech a few minutes ago. However, its overarching
purpose is to give effect to the wish of the British people to
leave the European Union as expressed in the referendum, and it
therefore has my support. I come to this debate as what can best
be described as a “mild Brexiteer”. I am afraid that I cannot
support the more extravagant claims of triumph or disaster
espoused by many who have more convinced and settled views.
Indeed, I wonder about what lies ahead with Artificial
Intelligence and robotics and their impact on this country and
our whole way of life. That impact may be so great that the
effect of Brexit may pale by comparison...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
