Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions the Prime Minister had with the then-UK Ambassador to the US on visiting Palantir head offices in Washington DC in February 2025.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to my answer of 10th March 2026, Official Report, PQ 112839.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what was the purpose of the Prime Minister's visit to Palantir head offices in Washington DC in February 2025.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to my answer of 10th March 2026, Official Report, PQ 112839.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether informal notes were taken of the meeting at Palantir HQ that was attended by Peter Mandelson, the Prime Minister, the chief executive of Palantir and the Head of Palantir Technologies UK and that took place on 27 February 2025.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The visit was part of the Prime Minister's trip to Washington. During this visit the Prime Minister listened to a short presentation about Palantir’s work, followed by a tour of the premises and an introduction to members of staff.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance governs the recording and publication of meetings between Ministers and private‑sector suppliers held during overseas visits.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member back to the answer given in UIN 103308.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he plans to review (a) the Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments, updated 16 January 2026, and (b) UK Security Vetting process.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The current version of the Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments is found on the Gov.uk website and was published on 30 October 2025.
NSV is, of course, kept under constant review to ensure it remains fit for purpose.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish a register of withheld and delayed documents as part of the response to the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer you to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process for complying with the Humble Address motion. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) his Department and (b) the arms length bodies sponsored by his Department are compliant with the Supreme Court ruling in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025].
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
We have set out our expectation that all duty bearers, including Departments and arm’s-length bodies, follow the law as clarified by the Supreme Court ruling and seek specialist legal advice where necessary. The Prime Minister has underlined this recently.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has submitted a draft Code of Practice on services, public functions and associations to Ministers, and we are reviewing it with the care it deserves. This will provide further guidance to duty bearers.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Contractfinder contract, Expert report - Resolution Foundation - Smith / Brewer, published 25 November 2025, ref: C19SF08RF25, whether the Resolution Foundation was selected via competitive tendering.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Expert report - Resolution Foundation - Smith / Brewer contract (ref: C19SF08RF25) was not procured via competitive tendering and instead via a below threshold direct award. The direct award was made in accordance with the Procurement Rules and associated policies.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Contractfinder contract, Expert report - Resolution Foundation - Smith / Brewer, published 25 November 2025, ref: C19SF08RF25, what the terms of reference are for the expert report for the Inquiry.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The requirements for the Expert report - Resolution Foundation - Smith / Brewer contract (ref: C19SF08RF25) can be found at Annex 2 – Specification of the redacted Short Form Contract attached to the Contracts Finder notice. Annex 2 states the requirements as being an independent and expert opinion on...Labour Market Inequality and the Welfare System, and Macroeconomic Policy and Public Finances and the contract involves the analysis and input of 2 expert witnesses.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the publication, Expenditure Over £25,000 - December 2025 (Cabinet Office Core), of 29 January 2026, what the purpose was of the payments to Accenture UK Ltd under the heading GCS New Media Unit Prog.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Unlimited was acquired by Accenture. Accenture is now the agency responsible for delivering comprehensive, end-to-end campaign solutions for public service campaigns.