Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether her Department took steps to consider the National Security Advisor's engagement with entities from the People’s Republic of China in his previous employment as part of his vetting process.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office maintains established policies to guide national security vetting decision-makers across government. To safeguard national security, these policies remain confidential and are not published.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will take steps to ensure the National Security Advisor appears publicly before the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The NSA has regular meetings with the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy in a private session on national security matters, reflecting their sensitivity. The Government does not routinely comment on them or their content.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether they plan to review the National Security Advisor’s vetting clearance.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
All vetting is kept under constant review. In line with the practice of previous administrations we do not comment on individual clearance cases.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any Government department has (a) used any technology created by or (b) entered into a formal contract with the Chinese company Geedge Networks.
Answered by Chris Ward
Details of central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February 2025, are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service. Neither platform show any contracts with Geedge Networks.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government uses IFlyTek for any translation services.
Answered by Chris Ward
Details of central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February 2025, are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service. Neither platform show any contracts with iFlyTek.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department holds assessments relating to national security risks arising from the 2016 acquisition of Global Switch by Elegant Jubilee Ltd.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether sensitive government data was (a) stored in and (b) transmitted through Global Switch data centres following the acquisition of a 49% stake by Elegant Jubilee Ltd in December 2016.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department conducted a national security review of the acquisition of Global Switch by Elegant Jubilee Ltd in December 2016.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Prime Minister was made aware that Peter Mandelson had failed his security vetting.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the Statement made by the Prime Minister on Security Vetting on the 20 April 2026, Official Report, Column 23-26.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what date the Cabinet was informed that (a) Peter Mandelson had failed his security vetting and (b) the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office had overruled the vetting failure.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Prime Minister on 20 April, and his answers to the questions raised in response, including his commitment that the Government would continue to comply with the instructions of Parliament in the Humble Address of 4 February.