Lord Clement-Jones
Liberal Democrat - Life peer
Joined House of Lords: 17th July 1998
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (AI and Digital)
(since July 2026)4 APPG Officer Positions (as of 12 Oct 2026)
Artificial Intelligence, Digital Inclusion, Intellectual Property, UK Tech16 APPG Memberships
Autism, Digital Regulation and Responsibility, Diversity and Inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Future of Work, Internet, Communications and Technology, Modernising Employment, Music, Performing Arts Education and Training, Political and Media Literacy, Publishing, Writers, Humanist, Digital Communities, Fair Elections, Visual Arts and Artists, Shakespeare20 Former APPG Officer Positions
China, Data Analytics, Data Poverty, Digital Regulation and Responsibility, Digital Skills, Future of Work, Indonesia, Internet, Communications and Technology, Kurdistan Region in Iraq, Music, Ovarian Cancer, Performers' Alliance, Performing Arts Education and Training, Pharmacy, Publishing, Ticket Abuse, Turkey, Video Games, Video Games and Esports, WritersDivision Voting information
Debates during the 2024 Parliament
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Sparring Partners
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
(58 debate interactions)
(49 debate interactions)
(48 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(140 debate contributions)
(105 debate contributions)
(74 debate contributions)
(47 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(40,482 words contributed)
(31,455 words contributed)
(14,281 words contributed)
(5,389 words contributed)
Lords initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Lord Clement-Jones, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
6 Bills introduced by Lord Clement-Jones
A Bill to amend the Licensing Act 2003 with respect to the performance of live music entertainment; and for connected purposes
This Bill received Royal Assent on 8th March 2012 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to regulate the use of automated and algorithmic tools in decision-making processes in the public sector; to require public authorities to complete an impact assessment of automated and algorithmic decision-making systems; to ensure the adoption of transparency standards for such systems; and for connected purposes.
A bill to make provision about the categorisation and use of B2 gaming machines; and for connected purposes.
Friday 11th March 2016
Second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the Bill - took place on 5 July.Committee stage - line by line examination of the Bill - is yet to be scheduled. The 2013-14 session of parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to amend the Environmental Protection Act 1990 with respect to the distribution of printed matter for events which involve small-scale performance of live music and other entertainment, and for connected purposes.
Friday 5th July 2013
A Bill to regulate the use of automated decision-making in the public sector; to require a public authority to complete an algorithmic impact assessment in prescribed form where it procures or develops an automated decision-making system; to establish a Minister for standards in algorithm use; and for connected purposes
A bill to prohibit the use of automated facial recognition technology in public places and to provide for a review of its use
Lord Clement-Jones has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)2 Other Department Questions
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has a robust whistleblowing policy in place and individuals are encouraged to raise a concern immediately if they are concerned about any wrongdoing. If a concern is raised through the policy procedures, the individual will be protected. Information on this departmental policy can be found on the department’s intranet.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Telecommunications Security Code of Practice provides technical guidance for public telecoms providers on how they can comply with their security requirements as set out in the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 and the Electronic Communications (Security Measures) Regulations 2022.
A full impact assessment was carried out for the telecoms security framework when it came into effect in 2022. The estimated cost of the framework on Tier 1 and Tier 2 public telecoms providers was assessed in the frameworks impact assessment (The Electronic Communications (Security Measures) Regulations 2022).
A full Regulatory Impact Assessment was not prepared for the revised Code of Practice. The revised Code provides additional guidance on how public telecommunications providers may demonstrate compliance with existing statutory security duties under the Act. The updates to the Code do not introduce new statutory duties or regulatory requirements and do not constitute a regulatory provision under the Better Regulation Framework.
An assessment on the costs to industry of the proposed updates to the Code was carried out, details of which are included in the explanatory memorandum. Indicative estimates suggest potential one-off implementation costs in the order of £1.9 million to £3.2 million per provider, with ongoing annual costs of approximately £285,000 to £445,000 per provider. When considered in the context of the scale and revenues of the UK telecommunications sector, the Government considers these costs to be relatively minor.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
This Government takes the protection of its information assets extremely seriously, including keeping its protective security measures under review.
To implement the revised 2023 Government Security Classification Policy (GSCP) across Whitehall, the Cabinet Office took a number of steps, including: issuing guidance on implementation timelines; distributing a range of training resources and communications material; and providing guidance on enabling the policy on departmental IT systems.
Cross-government compliance with the GSCP is routinely monitored by the Cabinet Office under its existing annual assurance regime, the Departmental Security Health Check.
Police forces are operationally independent from the UK Government and therefore manage their own information security policies.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
This Government takes the protection of its information assets extremely seriously, including keeping its protective security measures under review.
To implement the revised 2023 Government Security Classification Policy (GSCP) across Whitehall, the Cabinet Office took a number of steps, including: issuing guidance on implementation timelines; distributing a range of training resources and communications material; and providing guidance on enabling the policy on departmental IT systems.
Cross-government compliance with the GSCP is routinely monitored by the Cabinet Office under its existing annual assurance regime, the Departmental Security Health Check.
Police forces are operationally independent from the UK Government and therefore manage their own information security policies.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Alignment Project is a global fund dedicated to accelerating progress in AI alignment research. It is led by the AI Security Institute and backed by an international coalition of governments, industry, venture capital and philanthropic funders. Since its launch over £27 million has been awarded to 60 projects dedicated to accelerating progress in AI alignment research. LawZero was awarded a grant of up to £697,756 over 21 months (June 2026 to March 2028), comprising of staff costs and overheads.
Grants are awarded via a multi-stage application and review process, operated in line with established government grant-making procedures. The Alignment Project's Expert Advisory Board has no role in individual grant selection or funding decisions of the Alignment Project.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Section 83 of the Procurement Act 2023 requires contracting authorities to prepare, and keep under review, a conflicts assessment, and to confirm in the relevant procurement notice that this has been done. The Act does not require the conflicts assessment itself to be published. The Government has complied with this requirement by confirming in the relevant Contract Award Notice that a conflict of interest assessment was undertaken for this procurement.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The AI Security Institute’s staff are bound by the Civil Service Code, the Declaration and Management of Outside Interests guidance, and departmental Conflict of Interest Guidance. Staff are required to declare any outside interests that could give rise to an actual or perceived conflict. Declared interests are assessed and mitigated as appropriate.
Advisers are also subject to applicable conflict of interest, confidentiality and governance requirements through their terms of appointment, contracts or other engagement arrangements.
Conflicts of interest controls are also applied throughout the Institute’s commercial and grant-making activities, including procurement, supplier selection, contract award and management, grant assessment, award and ongoing grant management. Individuals involved must declare any actual, potential or perceived conflict before participating in contract or grant award decisions.
Senior Civil Servants' paid outside roles are published in line with cross Government requirements.
Following the Machinery of Government changes, responsibility for managing conflicts of interests at the AI Security Institute rests with the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary as Accounting Officer.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Information on total annual public sector expenditure on Microsoft software licences, cloud services and related support contracts is not held centrally. Responsibility for IT procurement is devolved to individual contracting authorities, which are responsible for determining their operational requirements and managing their own commercial arrangements.
In support of value for money, the Government Commercial Agency manages the Strategic Partnership Arrangement 2024 with Microsoft. This Memorandum of Understanding is designed to enable the public sector to benefit from government-wide scale in securing preferential pricing, while requiring individual customers to undertake compliant procurement processes and appropriate market testing for specific procurements.
The Government recognises the importance of effective competition in software and cloud markets in supporting value for money for taxpayers. It therefore seeks to maintain competitive tension and to reduce dependency on any single supplier by promoting a diverse technology estate across a range of cloud and software providers. The Cabinet Office also keeps under review relevant market investigations undertaken by the Competition and Markets Authority to help ensure that public sector digital procurement remains open and competitive.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Information on the specific proportion of annual central government expenditure on Microsoft products allocated to software licensing is not held centrally.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The CMA launched its Strategic Market Status designation investigation into Microsoft’s business software ecosystem on 14 May 2026.
This investigation must be completed within 9 months. An indicative timetable of this investigation is published on the CMA’s website. The CMA operates independently and decisions on which firms to investigate, and how these investigations are conducted rest solely with the CMA.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government does not maintain an aggregated assessment of departmental dependency on Microsoft software or cloud services. Departments are responsible for selecting technology that meets their needs, in line with security, resilience, procurement and value-for-money requirements. The Cloud First policy does not require use of Microsoft, and departments may procure competing products and services, including from other major cloud providers. The Strategic Partnership Arrangement 2024 secures preferential discounts for eligible public sector organisations but is not a direct route to market; departments must still run compliant procurement processes. Cabinet Office and DCMS continue to monitor the market, including the CMA’s investigation into Microsoft’s business software ecosystem, and will consider its findings when published.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government does not maintain an aggregated assessment of departmental dependency on Microsoft software or cloud services. Departments are responsible for selecting technology that meets their needs, in line with security, resilience, procurement and value-for-money requirements. The Cloud First policy does not require use of Microsoft, and departments may procure competing products and services, including from other major cloud providers. The Strategic Partnership Arrangement 2024 secures preferential discounts for eligible public sector organisations but is not a direct route to market; departments must still run compliant procurement processes. Cabinet Office and DCMS continue to monitor the market, including the CMA’s investigation into Microsoft’s business software ecosystem, and will consider its findings when published.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) investigations are conducted independently under its own statutory powers. Individual government departments are responsible for responding directly to the CMA’s information requests.
The Cabinet Office continues to facilitate engagement with the investigation by raising awareness and encouraging departments to participate through existing Government Commercial Function (GCF) and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) communication channels.
The CMA expects to publish provisional findings in late 2026, triggering a public consultation. Departments will then be encouraged to review these findings and submit evidence on the potential impact of proposed remedies on government digital projects.
Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.
The Lord Clement-Jones CBE
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
28 April 2026
Dear Lord Clement-Jones,
As Permanent Secretary of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions, asking whether the UK submitted any nominations for the UN Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, and what steps they are taking to ensure UK expertise contributes to the Board's global mandate(HL16600); what, if any, financial or human resources they plan to contribute to the UN Statistics Division to support the operations of the UN's Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (HL16601); whether the UK Statistics Authority will outline the national mechanisms in place in the UK to resolve issues regarding adherence to the UN's Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, in light of the UN Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics' principle of subsidiarity (HL16602); how the UK Statistics Authority plans to engage with the UN's Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics to ensure that UK statistical producers adopt the Board's forthcoming updated implementation guidelines (HL16603) and how the UK Statistics Authority plan to assist the UN's Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics in its mandate to raise global awareness and facilitate dialogue sessions with policymakers to build trust in official statistics (HL16604)
The UK was involved in the development of the Consultative Advisory Board and its terms of reference, alongside like-minded partners, to ensure it is relevant and impactful for those who request its support. The ONS was not asked to be a member of the board, and its membership was nominated by the Bureau of the UN Statistical Commission. It is worth noting that membership rotates and the UK will have the opportunity to join in the future.
The UK continues to support the work of the UN Statistical Division, as it is one of the most prominent organisations working in global statistics. We are a member of the wider UN Statistical Commission’s membership and have been since its creation1. We continue to provide resource through our engagement and chairing of UN working groups and bureaus, leading the delivery of projects relevant to the production and dissemination of statistics.
The Code of Practice for Statistics2 sets standards that producers of official statistics should commit to and is already consistent with the UN Fundamental Principles. This is maintained by the Office for Statistics Regulation, the regulatory arm of the UK Statistics Authority.
The ONS will engage with the work of the Consultative Advisory Board through the usual member state engagement conducted for updates to manuals and guidelines produced by the UN Statistical Commission, the UN Statistical Division, or its regional commissions. This process is outlined with the terms of reference3 for the board.
Finally, the ONS regularly assists in efforts to highlight the importance of the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, taking part in events to increase their profile, including its 30th anniversary events in 20244. In addition to this, as mentioned above, we will oversee the work of the Advisory Board, engaging directly with its annual reports, and we will play an active role in the review of the Board’s work that is expected to be completed after its first year. This will help to ensure the work is impactful and relevant for statistical producers, whose outputs policy makers rely upon.
Yours sincerely,
Darren Tierney
1. https://unstats.un.org/unsd/statcom/57th-session/documents/Membership-2026.pdf
4. https://unece.org/FPOS30#accordion_6
Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.
The Lord Clement-Jones CBE
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
28 April 2026
Dear Lord Clement-Jones,
As Permanent Secretary of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions, asking whether the UK submitted any nominations for the UN Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, and what steps they are taking to ensure UK expertise contributes to the Board's global mandate(HL16600); what, if any, financial or human resources they plan to contribute to the UN Statistics Division to support the operations of the UN's Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (HL16601); whether the UK Statistics Authority will outline the national mechanisms in place in the UK to resolve issues regarding adherence to the UN's Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, in light of the UN Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics' principle of subsidiarity (HL16602); how the UK Statistics Authority plans to engage with the UN's Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics to ensure that UK statistical producers adopt the Board's forthcoming updated implementation guidelines (HL16603) and how the UK Statistics Authority plan to assist the UN's Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics in its mandate to raise global awareness and facilitate dialogue sessions with policymakers to build trust in official statistics (HL16604)
The UK was involved in the development of the Consultative Advisory Board and its terms of reference, alongside like-minded partners, to ensure it is relevant and impactful for those who request its support. The ONS was not asked to be a member of the board, and its membership was nominated by the Bureau of the UN Statistical Commission. It is worth noting that membership rotates and the UK will have the opportunity to join in the future.
The UK continues to support the work of the UN Statistical Division, as it is one of the most prominent organisations working in global statistics. We are a member of the wider UN Statistical Commission’s membership and have been since its creation1. We continue to provide resource through our engagement and chairing of UN working groups and bureaus, leading the delivery of projects relevant to the production and dissemination of statistics.
The Code of Practice for Statistics2 sets standards that producers of official statistics should commit to and is already consistent with the UN Fundamental Principles. This is maintained by the Office for Statistics Regulation, the regulatory arm of the UK Statistics Authority.
The ONS will engage with the work of the Consultative Advisory Board through the usual member state engagement conducted for updates to manuals and guidelines produced by the UN Statistical Commission, the UN Statistical Division, or its regional commissions. This process is outlined with the terms of reference3 for the board.
Finally, the ONS regularly assists in efforts to highlight the importance of the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, taking part in events to increase their profile, including its 30th anniversary events in 20244. In addition to this, as mentioned above, we will oversee the work of the Advisory Board, engaging directly with its annual reports, and we will play an active role in the review of the Board’s work that is expected to be completed after its first year. This will help to ensure the work is impactful and relevant for statistical producers, whose outputs policy makers rely upon.
Yours sincerely,
Darren Tierney
1. https://unstats.un.org/unsd/statcom/57th-session/documents/Membership-2026.pdf
4. https://unece.org/FPOS30#accordion_6
Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.
The Lord Clement-Jones CBE
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
28 April 2026
Dear Lord Clement-Jones,
As Permanent Secretary of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions, asking whether the UK submitted any nominations for the UN Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, and what steps they are taking to ensure UK expertise contributes to the Board's global mandate(HL16600); what, if any, financial or human resources they plan to contribute to the UN Statistics Division to support the operations of the UN's Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (HL16601); whether the UK Statistics Authority will outline the national mechanisms in place in the UK to resolve issues regarding adherence to the UN's Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, in light of the UN Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics' principle of subsidiarity (HL16602); how the UK Statistics Authority plans to engage with the UN's Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics to ensure that UK statistical producers adopt the Board's forthcoming updated implementation guidelines (HL16603) and how the UK Statistics Authority plan to assist the UN's Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics in its mandate to raise global awareness and facilitate dialogue sessions with policymakers to build trust in official statistics (HL16604)
The UK was involved in the development of the Consultative Advisory Board and its terms of reference, alongside like-minded partners, to ensure it is relevant and impactful for those who request its support. The ONS was not asked to be a member of the board, and its membership was nominated by the Bureau of the UN Statistical Commission. It is worth noting that membership rotates and the UK will have the opportunity to join in the future.
The UK continues to support the work of the UN Statistical Division, as it is one of the most prominent organisations working in global statistics. We are a member of the wider UN Statistical Commission’s membership and have been since its creation1. We continue to provide resource through our engagement and chairing of UN working groups and bureaus, leading the delivery of projects relevant to the production and dissemination of statistics.
The Code of Practice for Statistics2 sets standards that producers of official statistics should commit to and is already consistent with the UN Fundamental Principles. This is maintained by the Office for Statistics Regulation, the regulatory arm of the UK Statistics Authority.
The ONS will engage with the work of the Consultative Advisory Board through the usual member state engagement conducted for updates to manuals and guidelines produced by the UN Statistical Commission, the UN Statistical Division, or its regional commissions. This process is outlined with the terms of reference3 for the board.
Finally, the ONS regularly assists in efforts to highlight the importance of the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, taking part in events to increase their profile, including its 30th anniversary events in 20244. In addition to this, as mentioned above, we will oversee the work of the Advisory Board, engaging directly with its annual reports, and we will play an active role in the review of the Board’s work that is expected to be completed after its first year. This will help to ensure the work is impactful and relevant for statistical producers, whose outputs policy makers rely upon.
Yours sincerely,
Darren Tierney
1. https://unstats.un.org/unsd/statcom/57th-session/documents/Membership-2026.pdf
4. https://unece.org/FPOS30#accordion_6
Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.
The Lord Clement-Jones CBE
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
28 April 2026
Dear Lord Clement-Jones,
As Permanent Secretary of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions, asking whether the UK submitted any nominations for the UN Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, and what steps they are taking to ensure UK expertise contributes to the Board's global mandate(HL16600); what, if any, financial or human resources they plan to contribute to the UN Statistics Division to support the operations of the UN's Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (HL16601); whether the UK Statistics Authority will outline the national mechanisms in place in the UK to resolve issues regarding adherence to the UN's Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, in light of the UN Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics' principle of subsidiarity (HL16602); how the UK Statistics Authority plans to engage with the UN's Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics to ensure that UK statistical producers adopt the Board's forthcoming updated implementation guidelines (HL16603) and how the UK Statistics Authority plan to assist the UN's Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics in its mandate to raise global awareness and facilitate dialogue sessions with policymakers to build trust in official statistics (HL16604)
The UK was involved in the development of the Consultative Advisory Board and its terms of reference, alongside like-minded partners, to ensure it is relevant and impactful for those who request its support. The ONS was not asked to be a member of the board, and its membership was nominated by the Bureau of the UN Statistical Commission. It is worth noting that membership rotates and the UK will have the opportunity to join in the future.
The UK continues to support the work of the UN Statistical Division, as it is one of the most prominent organisations working in global statistics. We are a member of the wider UN Statistical Commission’s membership and have been since its creation1. We continue to provide resource through our engagement and chairing of UN working groups and bureaus, leading the delivery of projects relevant to the production and dissemination of statistics.
The Code of Practice for Statistics2 sets standards that producers of official statistics should commit to and is already consistent with the UN Fundamental Principles. This is maintained by the Office for Statistics Regulation, the regulatory arm of the UK Statistics Authority.
The ONS will engage with the work of the Consultative Advisory Board through the usual member state engagement conducted for updates to manuals and guidelines produced by the UN Statistical Commission, the UN Statistical Division, or its regional commissions. This process is outlined with the terms of reference3 for the board.
Finally, the ONS regularly assists in efforts to highlight the importance of the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, taking part in events to increase their profile, including its 30th anniversary events in 20244. In addition to this, as mentioned above, we will oversee the work of the Advisory Board, engaging directly with its annual reports, and we will play an active role in the review of the Board’s work that is expected to be completed after its first year. This will help to ensure the work is impactful and relevant for statistical producers, whose outputs policy makers rely upon.
Yours sincerely,
Darren Tierney
1. https://unstats.un.org/unsd/statcom/57th-session/documents/Membership-2026.pdf
4. https://unece.org/FPOS30#accordion_6
Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.
The Lord Clement-Jones CBE
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
28 April 2026
Dear Lord Clement-Jones,
As Permanent Secretary of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions, asking whether the UK submitted any nominations for the UN Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, and what steps they are taking to ensure UK expertise contributes to the Board's global mandate(HL16600); what, if any, financial or human resources they plan to contribute to the UN Statistics Division to support the operations of the UN's Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (HL16601); whether the UK Statistics Authority will outline the national mechanisms in place in the UK to resolve issues regarding adherence to the UN's Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, in light of the UN Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics' principle of subsidiarity (HL16602); how the UK Statistics Authority plans to engage with the UN's Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics to ensure that UK statistical producers adopt the Board's forthcoming updated implementation guidelines (HL16603) and how the UK Statistics Authority plan to assist the UN's Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics in its mandate to raise global awareness and facilitate dialogue sessions with policymakers to build trust in official statistics (HL16604)
The UK was involved in the development of the Consultative Advisory Board and its terms of reference, alongside like-minded partners, to ensure it is relevant and impactful for those who request its support. The ONS was not asked to be a member of the board, and its membership was nominated by the Bureau of the UN Statistical Commission. It is worth noting that membership rotates and the UK will have the opportunity to join in the future.
The UK continues to support the work of the UN Statistical Division, as it is one of the most prominent organisations working in global statistics. We are a member of the wider UN Statistical Commission’s membership and have been since its creation1. We continue to provide resource through our engagement and chairing of UN working groups and bureaus, leading the delivery of projects relevant to the production and dissemination of statistics.
The Code of Practice for Statistics2 sets standards that producers of official statistics should commit to and is already consistent with the UN Fundamental Principles. This is maintained by the Office for Statistics Regulation, the regulatory arm of the UK Statistics Authority.
The ONS will engage with the work of the Consultative Advisory Board through the usual member state engagement conducted for updates to manuals and guidelines produced by the UN Statistical Commission, the UN Statistical Division, or its regional commissions. This process is outlined with the terms of reference3 for the board.
Finally, the ONS regularly assists in efforts to highlight the importance of the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, taking part in events to increase their profile, including its 30th anniversary events in 20244. In addition to this, as mentioned above, we will oversee the work of the Advisory Board, engaging directly with its annual reports, and we will play an active role in the review of the Board’s work that is expected to be completed after its first year. This will help to ensure the work is impactful and relevant for statistical producers, whose outputs policy makers rely upon.
Yours sincerely,
Darren Tierney
1. https://unstats.un.org/unsd/statcom/57th-session/documents/Membership-2026.pdf
4. https://unece.org/FPOS30#accordion_6
Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government utilises a range of suppliers based on operational requirements, value for money, and compliance with our security and legal obligations, with all suppliers subject to rigorous due diligence.
It is the responsibility of each contracting authority to ensure that contracts that they award are suitable for their requirements and legally compliant, and to monitor and manage the supplier's performance against their contractual obligations. All contracting authorities are simultaneously encouraged to follow the Government Security Group’s guidance on Tackling Security Risk in Government Supply Chains, which details best practices for procurement, commercial, and security practitioners when selecting and onboarding suppliers.
Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Digital Economy Act (DEA) 2017 Secretariat has no plans to publish application documents (e.g. pilot business cases, data protection impact assessments or memorandums of understanding) in relation to projects 341 and 476.
It is the voluntary responsibility of participating pilot organisations to publish any documentation in relation to applications. This is set out in paragraph 146 in the Code of Practice (CoP) for public authorities disclosing information under Chapters 1, 3 and 4 (Public Service Delivery, Debt and Fraud) of Part 5 of the DEA 2017.
On the publication of an end-of-pilot report on project 341, the DEA Secretariat publishes summary minutes from each Review Board meeting, which references organisational-led end-of-pilot reports. The decision to publish these reports are the responsibility of the relevant organisation.
Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
I refer the noble Lord to the answer given to question HL8487 on 30th June.
Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
In January 2024, Fujitsu said it would withdraw from bidding for contracts with new Government customers until the Post Office Horizon inquiry concludes – and it would only bid for work with existing Government customers where it already has an existing customer relationship with them, or where there is an agreed need for Fujitsu’s skills and capabilities. Fujitsu's bid approach is detailed in correspondence deposited in the Houses of Parliament libraries on 4 March 2024 (DEP2024-0247).
Details of public sector awards are publicly available on Contracts Finder & Find a Tender services. In addition to extensions available under Fujitsu’s existing contracts, Contracts Finder and Find a Tender provide details of twelve new Fujitsu contracts since July 2024. These awards are compliant with Fujitsu's commitment not to bid for work with new customers. The majority are for services already provided by Fujitsu and were put in place to ensure continuity of services whilst competitive procurements are being set up.
The Government is determined to hold those responsible for the Horizon scandal to account, and will continue to make rapid progress on compensation and redress. Fujitsu’s role in Horizon is one of the issues which is being reviewed by Sir Wyn Williams’s statutory inquiry. The Cabinet Office has been monitoring the situation, in addition to continuing its usual monitoring of Fujitsu as a strategic supplier. The Government will carefully consider volume 1 of the report, to be published on 8 July, which is limited in scope. Once the inquiry establishes the full facts, we will review its final report and consider any further action, as appropriate.
Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
In January 2024, Fujitsu said it would withdraw from bidding for contracts with new Government customers until the Post Office Horizon inquiry concludes – and it would only bid for work with existing Government customers where it already has an existing customer relationship with them, or where there is an agreed need for Fujitsu’s skills and capabilities. Fujitsu's bid approach is detailed in correspondence deposited in the Houses of Parliament libraries on 4 March 2024 (DEP2024-0247).
Details of public sector awards are publicly available on Contracts Finder & Find a Tender services. In addition to extensions available under Fujitsu’s existing contracts, Contracts Finder and Find a Tender provide details of twelve new Fujitsu contracts since July 2024. These awards are compliant with Fujitsu's commitment not to bid for work with new customers. The majority are for services already provided by Fujitsu and were put in place to ensure continuity of services whilst competitive procurements are being set up.
The Government is determined to hold those responsible for the Horizon scandal to account, and will continue to make rapid progress on compensation and redress. Fujitsu’s role in Horizon is one of the issues which is being reviewed by Sir Wyn Williams’s statutory inquiry. The Cabinet Office has been monitoring the situation, in addition to continuing its usual monitoring of Fujitsu as a strategic supplier. The Government will carefully consider volume 1 of the report, to be published on 8 July, which is limited in scope. Once the inquiry establishes the full facts, we will review its final report and consider any further action, as appropriate.
Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
In January 2024, Fujitsu said it would withdraw from bidding for contracts with new Government customers until the Post Office Horizon inquiry concludes – and it would only bid for work with existing Government customers where it already has an existing customer relationship with them, or where there is an agreed need for Fujitsu’s skills and capabilities. Fujitsu's bid approach is detailed in correspondence deposited in the Houses of Parliament libraries on 4 March 2024 (DEP2024-0247).
Details of public sector awards are publicly available on Contracts Finder & Find a Tender services. In addition to extensions available under Fujitsu’s existing contracts, Contracts Finder and Find a Tender provide details of twelve new Fujitsu contracts since July 2024. These awards are compliant with Fujitsu's commitment not to bid for work with new customers. The majority are for services already provided by Fujitsu and were put in place to ensure continuity of services whilst competitive procurements are being set up.
The Government is determined to hold those responsible for the Horizon scandal to account, and will continue to make rapid progress on compensation and redress. Fujitsu’s role in Horizon is one of the issues which is being reviewed by Sir Wyn Williams’s statutory inquiry. The Cabinet Office has been monitoring the situation, in addition to continuing its usual monitoring of Fujitsu as a strategic supplier. The Government will carefully consider volume 1 of the report, to be published on 8 July, which is limited in scope. Once the inquiry establishes the full facts, we will review its final report and consider any further action, as appropriate.
Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
It is not a mandatory requirement to publish a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA). We do have an obligation to let citizens know how we are processing their data, which we do via a privacy notice published on GOV.UK. We continually develop our DPIA to take into account the new identity verification journeys, such as the no photo ID route. Nevertheless, we are working on a publishable version of our DPIA which will be easy to digest for the public. The One Login programme meets with the Information Commissioners’ Office (ICO) on a monthly basis, engaging openly on programme developments, including iterations of the DPIA, and has been doing so since 2022.
Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
A Government Communications Service assessment of the utility of provenance tools can be found in GCS Innovating with Impact Strategy, under the subheading ‘Tackling horizon challenges head on’, a copy of which is attached.
Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The upcoming iteration of G-Cloud will introduce a streamlined ‘Open Framework’ under the new Procurement Act. This will simplify the existing portfolio of agreements, enhancing access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and challenger cloud providers.
Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
11 Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Questions
(View all Lord Clement-Jones's BIST questions)The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the UK's independent competition authority responsible for operating the digital markets regime. The Government does not conduct its own assessment of individual CMA investigations. Decisions on investigations, designations and interventions under the regime are a matter for the CMA.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Regulators’ Pioneer Fund (RPF), delivered by the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO), supports regulators and local authorities to develop and test innovative regulatory approaches that help accelerate innovation across a range of sectors and regions of the UK. In October 2025, the RIO awarded up to £7.9 million to 14 regulator and local authority-led projects through the fourth round of the Fund. These projects are due to conclude by the end of the 2026.
At London Tech Week in June 2026, the Government announced that the RIO would allocate approximately £70 million to regulatory innovation funding over the current spending review period. RIO is now developing the funding mechanisms, delivery model and supporting processes needed to deploy this funding effectively and maximise its impact.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Competition and Markets Authority is responsible for operating the digital markets regime. The length of Strategic Market Status investigations can vary due to a number of factors but must be completed within the statutory time limits imposed by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2025. The CMA has stated its intention to publish a roadmap.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The CMA expects to publish its final decision report on the Strategic Market Status investigation into Microsoft’s business software by February 2027. The CMA has already taken action in the cloud market outside of the investigation and secured voluntary commitments from Amazon and Microsoft, which will improve interoperability, reduce data egress fees and make switching easier in cloud services.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Competition and Markets Authority is responsible for operating the digital markets regime, including when to implement any conduct requirements. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 does not prevent the CMA from designing remedies in parallel with Strategic Market Status investigations.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
In July 2025, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published its final report on the UK cloud market. The key recommendation was for the CMA Board to prioritise commencing investigations under the digital markets regime and to consider designating the two largest providers —Microsoft and AWS — with strategic market status in relation to cloud services. The CMA is independent of Government and any decisions on initiating strategic market status investigations are for the CMA Board.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government has not carried out an assessment of the risks of over-reliance on dominant cloud service providers in the market. The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) cloud services market investigation examined the state of competition in the market. The CMA is independent of Government and any decisions on initiating strategic market status investigations are for the CMA Board.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is an independent competition authority, and decisions on implementing the recommendations from the cloud services market investigation rest with its Board. The Government has provided the CMA with bespoke powers to remedy competition problems in digital markets.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has indicated in its provisional Cloud Services report that it will recommend to its Board prioritising Strategic Market Status (SMS) investigations into Amazon Web Services and Microsoft. Decisions on which SMS investigations to launch are for the CMA, as the UK's independent competition authority. The Government will consider any additional recommendations made by the CMA in its final report, which is not expected until Summer 2025.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has indicated in its provisional Cloud Services report that it will recommend to its Board prioritising Strategic Market Status (SMS) investigations into Amazon Web Services and Microsoft. Decisions on which SMS investigations to launch are for the CMA, as the UK's independent competition authority. The Government will consider any additional recommendations made by the CMA in its final report, which is not expected until Summer 2025.
11 Department for Science, Innovation & Technology Questions
(View all Lord Clement-Jones's DSIT questions)While HMG has not issued a formal, comprehensive assessment of the Social Market Foundation's July 2024 report, Clearing the Air, its findings remain highly pertinent to ongoing digital market regulatory efforts.
This report was submitted as evidence to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to support its in-depth investigation into competition within the UK's public cloud infrastructure services market. These insights are currently being reviewed to help shape future public sector commercial practices and guidance.
Furthermore, public sector procurement continues to align with the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Playbook. The playbook establishes essential policy reforms aimed at safeguarding against vendor lock-in and maximizing value for money.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Telecommunications Security Code of Practice provides technical guidance for public telecoms providers on how they can comply with their security requirements as set out in the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 and the Electronic Communications (Security Measures) Regulations 2022.
The government is committed to continuously evaluating the effectiveness of the UK’s telecoms security framework, and the Draft Revised Code of Practice strengthens security guidance to public telecoms providers to reflect evolving technology and emerging security threats.
The government ran a consultation on proposed updates to the Telecommunications Security Code of Practice 2022 from 28 August 2025 to 22 October 2025, and an additional cost survey which ran from 25 November 2025 until 28 January 2026.
Cost related feedback received from the consultation, and the additional cost survey, informed the resulting assessment on costs to industry included in the explanatory memorandum for the Draft Revised Code of Practice, published on GOV.UK on 3 June.
Indicative estimates suggest potential one-off implementation costs of the proposed updates to the Code being in the order of £1.9 million to £3.2 million per provider. Estimates for the ongoing annual costs are approximately £285,000 to £445,000 per provider. The Government considers these costs to be relatively minor, given the critical importance of good security and the current scale and revenues of the UK telecommunications sector.
Underlying cost data from individual providers has not been published, to protect commercial confidentiality and mitigate the risk of exposing vulnerabilities in UK telecoms networks.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The figures are set out below:
Financial Year | UK Membership Contribution | % of Budget |
|---|---|---|
2000-01 | £600,000 | 19.0 |
2005-06 | £20,000 | 0.7 |
2010-11 | £20,000 | 1.0 |
2015-16 | £20,000 | 0.8 |
2020-21 | £25,000 | 1.1 |
2025-26 | £35,000 | 2.3 |
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Access to the AI Research Resource (AIRR) is governed by binding contractual and operational conditions to ensure that publicly funded compute is used responsibly and in line with UK law, including UK copyright law.
All users are required to enter into formal access agreements with the relevant host institutions and funders. The AIRR is currently delivered through systems hosted by the University of Bristol (Isambard‑AI) and the University of Cambridge (Dawn), with funding provided by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) on behalf of the Government. DSIT have been clear that copyright rules should also be respected: use of copyright works to train AI in the UK will require a licence unless an exception applies.
Where there is evidence or reasonable suspicion of breach of the AIRR conditions of use, remedial actions may include investigation by the host institution, suspension or termination of access, withdrawal of compute allocations, and, where appropriate, the application of contractual remedies.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Sovereign AI Fund operates on a commercial basis and within the UK’s existing legal framework. Companies receiving equity investment through Sovereign AI undergo due diligence before receiving funds or other support and are expected to comply with all applicable laws, including UK copyright law.
The Government has been clear that copyright rules should be respected. Use of copyright works to train AI in the UK requires a licence unless an exception applies. Companies supported by the Sovereign AI Fund are expected to comply with applicable UK law.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Sovereign AI Fund operates on a commercial basis and within the UK’s existing legal framework. Companies receiving equity investment through Sovereign AI undergo due diligence before receiving funds or other support and are expected to comply with all applicable laws, including UK copyright law.
The Government has been clear that copyright rules should be respected. Use of copyright works to train AI in the UK requires a licence unless an exception applies. Companies supported by the Sovereign AI Fund are expected to comply with applicable UK law.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation (CTO) is an international organisation, and the United Kingdom is one of 33 Member States. The CTO Secretariat presents statements of annual accounts to its governing Council, which consists of CTO Member States. From 2000 to 2019, annual financial audits of the CTO were carried out on time, presented to successive CTO Council meetings, and formally approved. Audited reports for 2019-20 and 2020-21 were approved by the CTO Council on 24 February 2023. An audited report for the financial year 2021-22 was approved by the CTO Council on 23 April 2026. Audited reports for the years 2022-23 and 2023-24 will be presented shortly. The CTO Council has agreed to reappoint its Auditor to conduct the audits for 2024-25 and 2025-26.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The government is aware that some applicants are abusing the UK design system and seeking to register designs for well-known products or products that don’t belong to them.
The 2025 consultation on changes to the UK design framework sought views on a wide range of measures around search and examination to improve the validity of registered designs. The government is currently reviewing responses to the consultation, and a response will be issued later this year.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The government is aware that there are aspects of design law which would benefit from simplification, consolidation and streamlining to make it easier for UK designers to protect their work.
The government’s consultation last year on changes to the UK design framework sought views on a range of measures to simplify the complexity of unregistered designs and help businesses who want to protect designs in the UK and EU. The government is currently reviewing responses to the consultation, and a response will be published later this year.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Since the criminal offence for unauthorised copying of a registered design was introduced by the Intellectual Property Act 2014, there is one reported case on record which included a conviction for an offence under section 35ZA of the Registered Designs Act 1949.
The government included a call for evidence on extending criminal sanctions to the unauthorised copying of unregistered designs in the consultation on changes to the UK designs framework which closed on 27 November 2025. At this stage, no decisions have been made and the evidence received is still being analysed. A government response to the consultation will be published later this year.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)