To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Palantir: Contracts
Tuesday 16th December 2025

Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many contracts across government departments have been let to Palantir in the past two years.

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

Palantir is not a strategic supplier and therefore details of contracts are not collated centrally.

Details of central government contracts above £12,000 and public sector contracts above £30,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder and for procurements commenced after 24 February 2025 are published on Find a Tender Service


Written Question
V-levels
Monday 15th December 2025

Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Act 2025 – Report on exercise of the Secretary of State’s functions, published on 27 November, what the role of Ofqual will be in the development of V levels, and what transitional arrangements they have made to maintain level 3 options for 16 to 19 year olds prior to the introduction of the new qualifications.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Ofqual will set the design rules for V Level structure, assessment and grading which each V Level must meet. In addition to the General Conditions of Recognition, these V Level specific conditions will be used to regulate awarding organisations’ design and delivery of every V Level, in the same way that each A level is regulated.

Ofqual will consider the regulatory approach that best meets the policy intent for V Levels and will consult on their plans in due course.

The department will work with Ofqual and awarding organisations on the approach to development and roll-out to ensure providers have as much time as possible to prepare for the delivery of V Levels.

In our consultation, we outlined plans to transition to V Levels while maintaining Level 3 options for 16 to19-year-olds. The government response will confirm the route order, implementation timetable, and priority subjects for first teaching in 2027.


Written Question
Department of Health and Social Care: Palantir
Thursday 11th December 2025

Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many contracts (1) have been let, and (2) are in the process of being agreed, between the Department of Health and Social Care and Palantir.

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

The Government had two contracts with Palantir Technologies UK which have expired. The first, worth £908,333.33, was for Foundry Software and implementation, between 12 June 2020 and 30 September 2020. The second, worth £750,000, was for the Adult Social Care Data Analytics Project, an extension of Palantir Foundry, between 12 October 2021 and 11 January 2022. There are no contracts in the process of being agreed.


Division Vote (Lords)
10 Dec 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Blunkett (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 144 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 244 Noes - 220
Division Vote (Lords)
10 Dec 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Blunkett (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 144 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 219 Noes - 223
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 03 Dec 2025
Sentencing Bill

"My Lords, my contribution this evening will be brief, only because there is a long evening ahead for the many noble Lords on the Front Bench and no lack of enthusiasm and commitment to continue working with other noble Lords who have spoken this evening to get this mess sorted …..."
Lord Blunkett - View Speech

View all Lord Blunkett (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Sentencing Bill

Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 03 Dec 2025
Sentencing Bill

"Before my noble friend on the Front Bench replies, could he also reflect that this took place on a Court of Appeal ruling two years after the implementation of the Act in 2005? That judgment then determined the hearings and therefore the sentences granted by judges, consequent on that Appeal …..."
Lord Blunkett - View Speech

View all Lord Blunkett (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Sentencing Bill

Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 25 Nov 2025
Forthcoming Fiscal Changes

"Does my noble friend agree that the investment in Sheffield Forgemasters, and through BAE Systems in other aspects of defence procurement in Sheffield, has substantially improved the growth prospects, job prospects and prosperity of the people of my city?..."
Lord Blunkett - View Speech

View all Lord Blunkett (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Forthcoming Fiscal Changes

Division Vote (Lords)
24 Nov 2025 - Planning and Infrastructure Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Blunkett (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 125 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 81 Noes - 132
Division Vote (Lords)
24 Nov 2025 - Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Blunkett (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 143 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 200 Noes - 244