Topical Questions

Answer from Oliver Dowden

The Cabinet Office launched a scheme to make new portraits of His Majesty available to all public institutions. Efforts on artificial intelligence include setting up an AI incubator with technical experts to drive adoption across Government.

Answer from Oliver Dowden

The hon. Lady will have heard the answers given by my right hon. Friend, the Paymaster General. He has given a clear commitment on both transparency and speed of response, which I am very happy to endorse from the Dispatch Box.

Answer from Alex Burghart

The Procurement Act is a landmark piece of legislation that makes life easier for SMEs through a new online procurement platform, easier information entry, visibility of upcoming contracts, and contracting authorities having regard to the needs of SMEs.

Answer from John Glen

I was making known my views on some of those choices and the challenges in delivering them. I was not deviating from Government policy, and I am very happy to put the record straight on the Floor of the House.

Answer from Oliver Dowden

Honours are not given posthumously, but we are in consultation with the palace to look at posthumous honours for people who have lost their lives in public service. We continue to keep this under review.

Answer from Oliver Dowden

Recommendations from the Boardman review have been implemented, including strengthening civil service contractual requirements and introducing a deed of covenant for Ministers to uphold ACOBA findings. I continue to engage with Lord Pickles about further reforms.

Answer from Oliver Dowden

My disposition and that of the Government is that open source AI is an important basis for building world-leading applications. We see companies growing fast by developing innovative AI off the back of open source, but there are risks associated with it.

Answer from Alex Burghart

Obviously, any contract of any size that the Government deal with—the Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS in this case—goes through an extremely detailed and careful process in order to ensure that we get the best value for money for the British public, that we help our public services solve the problems they face and that national security is maintained.

Answer from John Glen

I cannot comment on a specific case on the Floor of the House, but I am happy to engage with my hon. Friend on the matter he raises. Frameworks are in place, but without knowing more detail it is impossible for me to comment here.

Answer from John Glen

I understand that and, through the hon. Gentleman, I say to Mr Bates that I am doing everything I can to update the House as quickly as possible. There are a range of activities that I am familiar with from the small ministerial group of which I was previously a part. There is a lot of complexity in securing the envelope of money and then working out how to allocate it, but I am doing everything I can to bring that forward as quickly as possible.

Answer from John Glen

I will conclude my initial meetings this afternoon with a briefing on arm's length bodies and the range of different entities that exist beyond Whitehall. I will think very carefully about what my hon. Friend has said and look at what more we can do to ensure that there is real accountability, maximum productivity and efficiency, drawing on my experience up the road at the Treasury.

Answer from Oliver Dowden

I know that the Procedure Committee has been examining this subject, and we continue to discuss it with you, Mr Speaker. There is a well-established convention whereby the office of Foreign Secretary has been held by a Member of the other place. That has worked well in the past, but I know that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is committed to further increasing his accountability to this place.

Answer from John Glen

I am looking carefully at where we are with the plans for this year—obviously, there is a half-way point in that cycle—and at what policies we can put in place. At the beginning of October, the Chancellor announced a freeze on recruitment.[Official Report, 11 December 2023, Vol. 742, c. 5MC.] I will be looking at what we need to do now to ensure that, as we move into future financial years, we use the benefits of efficiencies that exist and different ways of delivering services, which we can learn from across the globe and the private sector, so that we get value for money for all those who are employed and do a good job in the civil service.

Answer from Oliver Dowden

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my previous answer about the well-established principle that Ministers can serve from the other place, which I believe last happened when Lord Mandelson was in the Labour Cabinet. However, the Government and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary recognise this House's desire to scrutinise him and he has committed to further measures to ensure that happens.

Answer from John Glen

Yes, I acknowledge that the Maude report had some very useful contributions. I am reflecting on that and will give a more substantial response and comment in due course.

Answer from John Glen

No, I cannot guarantee that, because I do not yet have collective agreement, but I am working towards that ambition and that is what I want to achieve.

Answer from John Glen

It is because I have not yet secured collective agreement to do so. The funds are available, and it is absolutely right that we bring that forward as soon as possible. Again, that is one of the activities that I will be engaged in resolving later this morning.

Answer from John Glen

I do not have that number for the hon. Gentleman, but the point he makes illustrates the urgency of the work in which I am engaged and the need to ensure that over the next 10 to 12 working weeks—by the expected date for the report's publication—the Government can bring forward a comprehensive response.