Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office on 18 March (HC119335), and with regard to Ministers' overseas travel and meetings: Publication Guidance, published on 30 January 2025, why the Palantir meeting did not meet the threshold for inclusion in the Prime Minister's quarterly transparency return in line with paragraphs 3(a), 3(b) and 16 of that guidance.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

I refer the Noble Lady to the answer given on 5 March, Official Report, PQ HC110411:

Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77563 on Palantir, whether there is a record of who the Prime Minister (a) met and (b) spoke to during that visit.

Answer: 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.

In December 2025, the MOD signed an extension to the Enterprise Agreement with Palantir that had been initially awarded in November 2022, by the previous Government, and via a direct award. This extension covered existing services and ensured there was no drop-off in MOD capability in critical areas.

This contract - and all other contracts for any firm - go through the usual rigorous departmental processes and their decision makers.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 9 April (HL15974), whether they plan to amend Ministerial Pension Scheme legislation to allow for pension forfeiture in cases where a minister is found guilty of (1) misconduct in public life, and (2) improper performance under the Bribery Act 2010, relating to their ministerial conduct.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the response already provided to HL 15974:

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office on 23 March (HC120630), what consideration they have given to amending primary legislation to provide for the Ministerial Pension Scheme to be in scope of forfeiture for situations where a former minister is convicted for a criminal offence in relation to their activities while serving as a minister.

Answer: The government does not currently have any plans to amend the Ministerial Pension Scheme.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 9 April (HL16073), in what manner the disclosure of the publication date of the most recent version of the guidance to the Civil Service on speaking to the media inhibits the future policy development of changes to that guidance.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The guidance on speaking to the media is subject to ongoing policy development. Disclosing the publication date of the most recent version of the guidance could, in conjunction with other information already in the public domain, reveal the stage and direction of that development, which in turn could inhibit the free and frank provision of advice necessary for the policy process to operate effectively.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to Part of a Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons dated 4 February 2026 relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as HM Ambassador to Washington, published on 11 March (HC1774-1), whether ministers and special advisers have been asked to provide details of communications with Global Counsel as part of (1) the Government response to the Humble Address, and (2) the Cabinet Secretary's review into Lord Mandelson.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is committed to complying with the Humble Address. Departments have been instructed to retain and provide to the Cabinet Office all information that falls in scope of the Humble Address motion, which may include communications with Global Counsel.

The former Cabinet Secretary was asked to review available information regarding Peter Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein during his period as a Minister. After an initial review of some documents, the matter was referred to the police. In light of the ongoing criminal investigation that was announced, that review has now been paused. The government is cooperating fully with the police investigation and providing any assistance required.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 17 March (HL15165), whether the Ponsonby Rule applies to memorandums of understanding they sign with (1) foreign governments, (2) local, regional or state-level government tiers of foreign countries, and (3) supranational organisations; what their definition of a treaty is in this context; and what their policy is on disclosing to Parliament international agreements with foreign bodies that do not have the status of a treaty.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The Ponsonby Rule, which was put onto a statutory footing by the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, did not apply to Memoranda of Understanding. The Government uses the definition of a treaty set out in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, which is consistent with the definition used in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. Memoranda of Understanding and other non-legally binding instruments are treated like other expressions of Government policy. Where they raise questions of public importance, it may be necessary to bring them to the attention of Parliament. There will be occasions where the sensitivity of content or the wishes of other signatories (for example, on defence matters) means that such arrangements must be kept confidential.