Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Thursday 23 October 2025 · 11 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 5 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Shaun Davies questioned the Government on seizing the opportunity to modernize public services with digital technology, to which the Government responded positively.
  • Alex Burghart inquired about a spying case against MPs, and the response stated that the Crown Prosecution Service independently decided not to proceed with the case.
  • Gurinder Singh Josan asked about the steps taken to ensure a regulatory regime for cryptoassets that balances industry development and consumer protection, and the response highlighted the Government's progress on this front.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Shaun Davies Lab Telford
NHS Taxation Science & Technology
Context

MP references the challenge of modernizing public services using digital technology and artificial intelligence.

Question

While the white heat of artificial intelligence and digital technology offer a revolutionary opportunity to improve performance and value for money in healthcare, tax services and everything in between, will the Government seize this opportunity to modernise our public services, working with the brightest and best industries across Britain?

Answer from Darren Jones (Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister)

Absolutely yes. All constituents know from their experiences at home, whether doing banking, shopping or booking holidays, that they can do it when they want to do it, how they want to do it, on their phone, with services delivered in the way they want. The public rightly expect, when paying tax money for public services, that we catch up with the private sector and deliver better public services.

Answered
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Q2 Alex Burghart Con Brentwood and Ongar
Crime & Law Enforcement Democracy & Elections
Context

MP inquires about the notification of a Crown Prosecution Service decision regarding an alleged case of spying against MPs.

Question

Was he told that the alleged case of spying against Members of Parliament was due to collapse before the information became public and, if so, who told him?

Answer from Darren Jones (Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister)

The only relevant institution in this case is the Crown Prosecution Service. It is the CPS that independently decides whether to bring forward these cases, and it was the independent decision of the Crown Prosecution Service not to proceed.

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Q3 Julie Minns Lab Carlisle
Science & Technology
Context

MP raises concern about mobile networks' ability to withstand prolonged power outages due to storms.

Question

What assessment has been made of the resilience of mobile networks in the event of a prolonged power cut?

Answer from Dan Jarvis (Minister of State, Cabinet Office)

Absolutely recognise the impact that the loss of communication services can have. The Cabinet Office is responsible for the co-ordination of resilience and crisis management across Government. Would be more than happy to discuss this matter further with the hon. Friend and represent her concerns to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

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Q4 Ellie Chowns Green North Herefordshire
Climate Democracy & Elections
Context

MP questions the Government's actions regarding the publication of a JIC report on national security threats posed by climate change.

Question

Can the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster please tell the House whether it is true that the Government are trying to block the Joint Intelligence Committee chief’s efforts to keep us all safe? When can we expect the report to see the light of day?

Answer from Darren Jones (Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister)

The Government take seriously the risk of climate change and the risk it poses to national security. That is why we are taking action to mitigate that risk and to reduce our carbon emissions. The outcomes of routine assessments done by the Government in relation to the national risk register on gov.uk will continue.

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Q5 Gurinder Singh Josan Lab Smethwick
Economy Business & Trade
Context

MP inquires about the regulatory measures being put in place to support UK citizens holding digital assets.

Question

Can the Minister detail what steps he has taken to ensure that we rapidly put in place a regulatory regime that gives confidence to the industry to develop and to companies to be based in the UK, while providing protection for consumers?

Answer from Dan Jarvis (Minister of State, Cabinet Office)

Grateful for the work my hon. Friend does in co-chairing the crypto and digital assets all-party parliamentary group. Financial services are integral to our mission for economic growth. Proceeding with proposals to create a new financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets.

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Q6 Patrick Hurley Lab Southport
NHS
Context

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority is addressing compensation for victims affected by contaminated blood products. The process, however, has been criticized for its lengthy duration.

Question

I was pleased that the Minister gave an update earlier on the work of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, but the process is still taking too long. May I press the Minister to undertake work specifically to expedite the timescales in which compensation is expected to be paid?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds (The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office)

My hon. Friend is a powerful advocate for infected blood victims, and he can rest assured that I will continue to drive progress as quickly as I possibly can. That is how we have got to the stage where over £1.8 billion-worth of offers have been made, and I will continue to drive that progress quickly.

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Q7 Charlie Dewhirst Con Bridlington and The Wolds
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

There is concern about the UK's approach to negotiating trade relations with the EU, particularly regarding fishing rights.

Question

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has just come to the Dispatch Box and said that we have done a new trade deal with the European Union, which I think is news to both the Prime Minister and Brussels. The only thing this Government have done so far in terms of EU relations is to sell out our fishing industry for the next 12 years. With that in mind, will the Minister actually stand up for British interests in future negotiations with Brussels?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds (Minister)

I stand up for British interests in every negotiation with Brussels. I will tell the hon. Gentleman what is not standing up for British interests. We negotiated, within 10 months of coming into government, the new common understanding that will be good for jobs, bear down on bills and give us the tools to secure our borders. The leader of the Conservative party opposed it before even reading it.

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Q8 Sam Carling Lab North West Cambridgeshire
NHS Education Taxation
Context

Public sector organizations such as NHS trusts and schools face significant costs due to third-party software licensing.

Question

I have been thinking about the cost of software licensing in the public sector, because North West Anglia NHS foundation trust is trying to move to an electronic patient record and one of the biggest ongoing costs of that is third-party payments for software. Other trusts are in the same position, as are many schools paying for pupil management software. Will the procurement Minister commit to looking into whether we can instead deliver some of that in-house and save significant sums?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds (Minister)

I agree with my hon. Friend's point about the cost of software licensing and understand the impact it can have on public services like health trusts and schools. I will look into whether there are more efficient, in-house solutions to deliver these systems that would save significant sums for taxpayers.

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Q9 Ben Maguire Lib Dem North Cornwall
Context

Residents in a housing development face issues due to a developer's bankruptcy, with the Duchy of Cornwall now owning parts of the communal land. The constituent needs to purchase the land back and cover legal costs.

Question

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has Cabinet oversight, but who does the Duchy of Cornwall answer to and what recourse do my constituents have in this case?

Answer from Darren Jones

If the hon. Member writes to me with his constituency case, I will make sure that the Duchy of Cornwall looks at it in due course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific oversight mechanism and immediate recourse not provided

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Q10 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
NHS Northern Ireland Wales
Context

As of February, 149 people had started the process and received offers totalling £48 million under the infected blood compensation scheme in Northern Ireland.

Question

What assessment has been made of the time taken from when an application is made to when a payment arrives?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority is operationally independent, but I am accountable to this House. It is important that I have regular conversations and provide challenge on the kind of timescales the hon. Gentleman is talking about. The infected blood scandal predates modern-day devolution and he can rest assured that all four corners of the United Kingdom are at the forefront of my mind in respect of the speed of delivery.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeframe not provided, focused on accountability and operational independence instead

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Q11 Andrew Snowden Con Fylde
Context

The Minister was previously asked about the increasing civil service size and whether it will decrease next year.

Question

When are this Government going to take ownership of the fact that they are in government now, and these are their problems that they need to resolve?

Answer from Darren Jones

I am very happy to take ownership of the fact that we are in government, and very happy to confirm that the Conservatives are in opposition.

Not addressed: Specific issue of civil service size not addressed

How: Redirecting Blame

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