Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, if any, with Fujitsu regarding a tender for the contract to replace the Post Office Horizon system.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Post Office have a contract with Fujitsu until March 2025 for the Horizon IT system, and are in negotiations with Fujitsu regarding an extension to that contract. Officials at the Department have met with Fujitsu to discuss the importance of a contract extension, which would allow continuity of service in post office branches while Post Office develops a replacement to the Horizon system.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Fujitsu regarding payment of compensation by the company because of their involvement in the Post Office Horizon scandal.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government welcomes the fact that Fujitsu has acknowledged their moral obligation to make a contribution to the cost of redress. At the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry the UK head of Fujitsu stated that he is willing and ready to engage with Government on the size of the contribution. Once the statutory Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry has reviewed all the evidence and the Chair, Sir Wyn Williams, has delivered his report, the Department will consider his findings and take appropriate action.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have signed new contracts or renewed existing contracts with Fujitsu this year.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Details of central government contracts where the contract value is above £12,000 are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search. In addition to extensions available under Fujitsu’s existing contracts, Contracts Finder provides details of five services provided by Fujitsu, that have been extended through direct awards since January. These service extensions ensured continuity of public services, whilst competitive procurements are being set up, as appropriate.

Cabinet Office has reviewed cases for supplier service extensions in line with the commercial spend controls process in order to ensure continuity of public services.

In January 2024, Fujitsu said it would withdraw from bidding for contracts for new work with new Government customers until the Post Office Horizon inquiry concludes – it would only bid for work with existing Government customers where it already has a contract with them, or where there is an agreed need for Fujitsu’s skills and capabilities.

Fujitsu's bid approach is detailed in this letter, deposited in Parliament. For more details, please see here.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government which Government Departments have contracts with Fujitsu and what is the value of each contract.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Details of central government contracts where the contract value is above £12,000 are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search. In addition to extensions available under Fujitsu’s existing contracts, Contracts Finder provides details of five services provided by Fujitsu, that have been extended through direct awards since January. These service extensions ensured continuity of public services, whilst competitive procurements are being set up, as appropriate.

Cabinet Office has reviewed cases for supplier service extensions in line with the commercial spend controls process in order to ensure continuity of public services.

In January 2024, Fujitsu said it would withdraw from bidding for contracts for new work with new Government customers until the Post Office Horizon inquiry concludes – it would only bid for work with existing Government customers where it already has a contract with them, or where there is an agreed need for Fujitsu’s skills and capabilities.

Fujitsu's bid approach is detailed in this letter, deposited in Parliament. For more details, please see here.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce the licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to taking action to address concerns about the safety of the cosmetics sector and is exploring options for further regulation in this area. We will set out the details of our approach in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to regulate the cosmetic surgery industry.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to taking action to address concerns about the safety of the cosmetics sector and is exploring options for further regulation in this area. We will set out the details of our approach in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to regulate the sale and marketing of overseas cosmetic surgery procedures in the UK.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department is working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office and with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to tackle inappropriate advertising of overseas cosmetic surgeries in the United Kingdom. The ASA is taking enforcement activity against any company which contravenes UK advertising standards.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost to the NHS of treatment of individuals returning from overseas having undergone cosmetic surgery.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department does not have data on the overall costs to the National Health Service for treating complications from cosmetic procedures conducted overseas. We are exploring ways to improve our understanding of the scale of the cost to the NHS.

Found: which we would all recognise has played a really positive role in this, Lord Arbuthnot and now Lord Beamish

Found: postmasters and their families who came forward earlier this year, and parliamentarians such as Lord Beamish