Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that UK Government public procurement does not contribute to serious human‑rights (a) risks and (b) violations overseas.
Answered by Chris Ward
The Government is clear that abhorrent human rights abuses including modern slavery and human trafficking have no place in public supply chains.
The Procurement Act 2023 provides contracting authorities with stronger powers to exclude suppliers from public procurements where there is compelling evidence of modern slavery within their supply chains. The exclusion grounds now also cover behaviour outside of the UK which would be an offence if it had been committed in the UK.
The Cabinet Office has, in addition, published extensive risk-based policy and guidance for commercial teams to tackle labour rights abuses in UK and global supply chains.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department held on Labour Together's report into journalists prior to the hon. Member for Makerfield’s appointment as Parliamentary Secretary.
Answered by Chris Ward
There is an established process in place for the appointment of Ministers.
Advice, which may or may not have been provided to the Prime Minister as part of this process, is treated in confidence.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if his Department will take steps to (a) review all existing contract with Palantir and (b) suspend any further engagement with company until the investigations into Peter Mandelson are completed.
Answered by Chris Ward
All contracts for any firm go through rigorous departmental processes and their decision makers. Contracts procured by Government departments are done so in line with procurement law. This was the case with all contracts to Palantir.
We utilise 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. There are robust processes in place to ensure government contracts are awarded fairly and transparently.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on whether Government Departments have sought advice from Labour Together on policy development.
Answered by Chris Ward
This information is not held centrally.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the annual cost is of Government contracts for the licensing of a) Zoom, b) Microsoft, c) Amazon d) Google computing platforms for the civil service.
Answered by Chris Ward
Information on the annual cost of Government contracts for licensing across the Civil Service is not held centrally.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions the Prime Minister had with the then-UK Ambassador to the US on visiting Palantir head offices in Washington DC in February 2025.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds
I refer the Hon Member to my answer of 10th March 2026, Official Report, PQ 112839.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what was the purpose of the Prime Minister's visit to Palantir head offices in Washington DC in February 2025.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds
I refer the Hon Member to my answer of 10th March 2026, Official Report, PQ 112839.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will include AI loss-of-control scenarios will be included in the next edition of the National Risk Register.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The UK is facing an ever-changing and growing set of risks. All risks in the National Risk Register are kept under review to ensure that they are the most appropriate scenarios to inform emergency preparedness and resilience activity.
The challenges posed by artificial intelligence are referenced in the 2025 National Risk Register as a chronic risk, and incorporated in the Chronic Risks Analysis, the UK's first bespoke assessment for medium to long-term challenges facing the nation.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)’s AI risk register covers the full spectrum of AI risks that could impact the UK, spanning national security, defence, the economy and society. The AI Risk Register includes AI-loss-of control scenarios. The Government is committed to protecting UK citizens against the risks that advanced AI could bring, while ensuring we can maximise AI's potential for growth and public service delivery.