Business of the House

Seamus Logan Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I welcome my hon. Friend’s initiative to celebrate local enterprise. Independent shops, cafés and pubs are the backbone of our local economies, and I am pleased to join him in encouraging people across Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove to nominate the local businesses that make a real difference to their neighbourhood.

[Seamus Logan (Aberdeenshire North and Moray East) (SNP)]

Earlier this week, The Guardian reported on extensive communications over several months between the former Health Minister, the hon. Member for Glasgow South West (Dr Ahmed), and the UK head of Palantir—I must advise you, Madam Deputy Speaker, that I informed the Member’s office that I would mention him. Information obtained from freedom of information requests reveals the extent of covert political lobbying conducted by Palantir and its bedfellows, some of whom are senior figures in the Labour party. The lobbying is designed to extend the reach of the federated data platform into primary care and to ensure that the brake clause available next year is not employed. Will the Leader of the House advise me on how we—I say “we” because I mean Members on both sides of the House—can obtain a debate on this subject, so that the full nature of the contract and this disreputable provider can be exposed?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The contract for the NHS federated data platform was awarded through a competitive procurement process; the supplier contract will be reviewed in line with standard contract management processes, and the outcome will be announced in the normal way in due course. The hon. Gentleman has every right to raise these matters. If he wishes to hear from a Health Minister directly, I encourage him to seek an Adjournment debate.