Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to coordinate across the Home Office, Department for Education, and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, to ensure that English language tests used in immigration and education services are fit for purpose.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office recognises the importance of ensuring English Language Tests used across immigration and education services are fit for purpose.
We will continue to engage Other Government Departments as well as gathering insight and feedback to help shape the Home Office English Language Testing tender. The Home Office are working with the Government Digital Service within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology as part of our procurement approvals process and will continue to do so throughout this procurement.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will be adopting modes of English assessment based on at-home English proficiency tests within the planned Home Office English Language Test tender, and what risk assessment they have carried out in this regard.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office is currently conducting Market Engagement to gather market insights on remote testing technology and its viability for the Home Office English Language Testing service. Before any decision can be made to formally include at-home English proficiency testing as part of the contract, the Home Office would ensure appropriate risk assessments are conducted to ensure compliance with Home Office policy.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they are ensuring algorithmic transparency and bias mitigation in the Home Office English Language Test tender.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office has an established assurance pathway for use of solutions including any algorithmic components. This includes complying with the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standards Hub and the Advanced Algorithms (including Artificial Intelligence) Policy.
The Home Office is currently conducting Market Engagement which will inform the contractual requirements which are currently in development. The tender will be conducted in accordance with the Sourcing Playbook and the Magenta book. Full details will be set out in the Tender Instructions.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cybersecurity implications of incorporating remote digital testing platforms into the forthcoming Home Office English Language Testing contract, and how they will ensure data security and fraud prevention across 142 countries.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office is currently conducting Market Engagement to gather market insights on newly available and emerging technology in relation to remote testing, and the viability of incorporating this into the HOELT service.
Before any decision can be made to formally include remote testing as part of the Home Office English Language Testing contract, the Home Office would ensure a full Cyber Security Assessment including a Threat Assessment is conducted to ensure compliance with Home Office Policy.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will set out a timetable and plan for the establishment of the Creative Content Exchange, and which department or agency will have prime responsibility for that marketplace.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The establishment of the Creative Content Exchange is being scoped as swiftly as possible across government, although the concept is still embryonic. DCMS is leading this work with DSIT. We will set out timelines in due course and keep peers up to date in the meantime.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance they have issued to departments about the ethical and reputational risks of awarding public contracts to suppliers, such as Fujitsu, that are subject to public sector inquiries.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the noble Lord to the answer given to question HL8487 on 30th June.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the propriety of awarding the Trader Support Service contract to a company that is under public scrutiny as part of the Post Office Horizon scandal.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
As a public contracting authority, HMRC follow government procurement rules when awarding contracts, ensuring value for money for taxpayers. The Trader Support Services contract was procured in compliance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Existing service delivery is managed robustly by contract management teams in compliance with this legislation and to ensure that the requirements of UK traders are met under the Windsor Framework. HMRC keep the performance and conduct of all their suppliers under review.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether alternative suppliers are being considered in the re-tendering of the Trader Support Service, and whether they will take into account the risk profile of Fujitsu in those considerations.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC follow standard government procurement rules and keep the performance and conduct of all their suppliers under review. All of HMRC’s contract opportunities are publicly available through Contracts Finder and Find-a-Tender Service. Contract opportunities are available to any economic operator that is able to meet the requirements of the procurement in compliance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or The Procurement Regulations 2024, as applicable.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to applying exclusion clauses under public procurement regulations to prevent Fujitsu from bidding for new contracts until the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry concludes.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
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.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review Fujitsu’s suitability to continue as a supplier for public sector contracts.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
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.