Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of reports that Microsoft has withdrawn services from the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, what steps they are taking to ensure that software services provided to public sector bodies by non-UK based companies cannot be unexpectedly withdrawn.

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

We are aware of media reports that Microsoft may have blocked the email account of Karim Khan, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), in compliance with US sanctions imposed by the Trump administration. It is our understanding that Microsoft has strongly denied this action, it would therefore be in appropriate for us to comment further at this point in time, other than to note that we constantly keep our commercial relationships under review.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that software services provided to UK public sector bodies by companies based in the jurisdiction of hostile state actors cannot be accessed by those hostile state actors.

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

The government takes data security very seriously and has taken appropriate action to mitigate hostile state actors providing or accessing the software services being used by the public sector. The National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) requires public sector contracting authorities to mitigate any potential risk from hostile states by addressing national security risk in all procurements.

The Procurement Act 2023 introduces powers to exclude a supplier from a specific procurement, terminate a public contract with a supplier, or debar a supplier from all, or a range of, public contracts. Ministers may exercise this power should they deem there to be a threat to national security.

Contracting authorities should follow Government Security Group (GSG)’s guidance on Tackling Security Risk in Government Supply Chains, as well as supply chain guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and National Protective Security Authority (NPSA).

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of their software assets to ascertain usage, year-over-year spend and potential dependencies for the purpose of realising maximum cost efficiencies for digital transformation.

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

The Digital Commercial Centre of Excellence is pursuing multiple strategies to improve value for money and outcomes in digital purchasing, including development of a digital sourcing strategy, central buying of commodity services, creation of technical enablers and joined up management of strategic digital suppliers.

Through our digital sourcing strategy and digital supplier management we will engage with suppliers to ensure appropriate licensing to achieve our digital transformation outcomes.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of software licences that restrict specific uses of that software, such as customisation of capabilities, on the digital transformation programmes set out in the Spending Review 2025 (CP1336).

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

The Digital Commercial Centre of Excellence is pursuing multiple strategies to improve value for money and outcomes in digital purchasing, including development of a digital sourcing strategy, central buying of commodity services, creation of technical enablers and joined up management of strategic digital suppliers.

Through our digital sourcing strategy and digital supplier management we will engage with suppliers to ensure appropriate licensing to achieve our digital transformation outcomes, as well as ensure we do not over customise capabilities risking them becoming legacy in the future.

Found: Bhatti M P Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Tech and the Digital Economy To 5 Jul 2024 Viscount Camrose

Found: Bhatti M P Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Tech and the Digital Economy To 5 Jul 2024 Viscount Camrose

Found: in our Framework Document.5 The ministers responsible for the IPO during the year were The Viscount Camrose

Found: in our Framework Document.5 The ministers responsible for the IPO during the year were The Viscount Camrose