Key facts
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reportedly considering abolishing the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
- The department's responsibilities may be divided between the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
- Industry leaders warn that such a move could damage the UK's standing as a technology hub and unsettle investors.
- DSIT was created in 2023 to centralize AI, research, digital regulation, and innovation.
- Concerns exist that restructuring could slow decision-making and distract from the global AI race.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reportedly contemplating the abolition of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), a move that has sparked significant concern within the UK's technology sector. The proposed overhaul would see DSIT's responsibilities distributed between the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, though these plans remain unconfirmed.
Industry leaders, including Brent Hoberman of Founders Forum and former AI adviser Matt Clifford, have voiced strong opposition, warning that such a reorganization could destabilize global investor confidence and undermine Britain's efforts to establish itself as a leading AI hub. They argue that maintaining momentum in the fast-growing tech sector should be the priority, rather than undergoing a potentially disruptive government restructuring.
DSIT was established in 2023 with the mandate to centralize oversight of AI, research, digital regulation, and innovation. It has since been instrumental in initiatives such as the AI Opportunities Action Plan, the AI Security Institute, and the Sovereign AI Fund. Trade bodies like techUK and the Startup Coalition have cautioned that a machinery-of-government reshuffle would divert critical time and energy from ministers and civil servants, potentially slowing decision-making at a crucial juncture in the global AI race against the US, China, and Europe.
While Burnham has pledged to spread economic growth beyond London through devolution and regional investment, tech advocates stress that this ambition should complement, not weaken, the existing strengths of the UK's technology ecosystem, particularly in London. The prospect of a Cabinet-level AI minister has been met with industry approval, but the potential dismantling of DSIT remains a significant point of contention.