Written questions by Kearns.

Whether the Government uses IFlyTek for any translation services.

Awaiting answer.

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.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Whether his Department conducted a national security review of the acquisition of Global Switch by Elegant Jubilee Ltd in December 2016.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Whether his Department holds assessments relating to national security risks arising from the 2016 acquisition of Global Switch by Elegant Jubilee Ltd.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will set out whether the Prime Minister and any Number 10 special adviser reviewed the shortlist for the incoming special envoy for hostage affairs; and if Number 10 has selected a candidate to take up the position of special envoy for hostage affairs.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer she was provided on 15 January 2025 in response to Question 22098.

When the Prime Minister was made aware that Peter Mandelson had failed his security vetting.

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.

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.

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.

How long it took for the National Security Advisor to be vetted after his appointment.

Individuals appointed as National Security Adviser go through an extensive process which includes National Security Vetting (NSV). National Security Vetting for the current National Security Adviser was conducted to the usual standard set for Developed Vetting.It is long-standing practice that the government does not comment on individual vetting cases.

Whether minutes were taken of the meeting between the National Security Advisor and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on 14th July 2025.

The Government has a clear and consistent policy to not comment on the NSA’s meetings to protect sensitive information pertaining to this country’s national security. This has been the case under successive governments.

Whether the National Security Advisor discussed the case on Chinese espionage recently dropped by the CPS with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during their meeting in Beijing on 14th July 2025.

The Government has a clear and consistent policy to not comment on the NSA’s meetings to protect sensitive information pertaining to this country’s national security. This has been the case under successive governments.

If he will provide guidance on how Parliamentarians may scrutinise the visit of the National Security Advisor to Beijing, in the context of his decision not to give evidence to Parliamentary Committees.

The Government has confirmed that the National Security Adviser will attend a private session with the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy in Parliament.

If he will publish a summary of the discussions held by the National Security Advisor and Chinese Foreign Minister in Beijing on 14 July 2025.

The Government does not routinely comment on the meetings of the National Security Adviser, which are often sensitive in nature.

If the National Security Advisor will give evidence to a Parliamentary Committee following his meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister on 14 July 2025.

The Government has confirmed that the National Security Adviser will attend a private session with the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy in Parliament.

Whether the Prime Minister authorised the National Security Advisor to meet with the Chinese Foreign Minister in Beijing on 14 July 2025.

The National Security Adviser discusses a wide range of national security matters with the Prime Minister. The Government does not routinely comment on the meetings of the National Security Adviser, which are often sensitive in nature.

Whether he plans to reduce the number of people working (a) on national security and (b) in the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre.

As set out in the Plan For Change, this Government’s first duty is to make the UK safer, more secure, and resilient against growing and interconnected threats. The Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary has announced plans to restructure and reorganise the Cabinet Office to make it more efficient and more effective. This programme is currently underway.

What assessment the Government has made of the potential implications for his policies of the decision by the Australian government to ban DeepSeek from all government devices and systems.

The UK government keeps new technologies under review to ensure that our existing policies and guidance are appropriate to mitigate any emerging risks. In the case of new Artificial Intelligence tools, we have a robust set of security policies in place to manage how information is handled. The recently updated Artificial Intelligence Playbook for the UK Government outlines that only corporately assured Generative AI tools should be used to process government information. The Mobile Device Management policy mandates that any application downloaded onto government devices must first be approved by security and technology teams. Everyone who works in government is also made aware of their responsibility to safeguard any government information or data that they process, access or share.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of banning the use of the DeepSeek artificial intelligence model (a) on government devices, (b) in government buildings and (c) by government employees.

Everyone who works with government has a duty of confidentiality and a responsibility to safeguard any government information or data that they process, access or share, and all government departments are required to meet a range of mandatory security standards.Government has a robust set of security policies in place to oversee how information is handled, within our buildings, on our IT and by our staff. We keep these policies under constant review to ensure they are applicable to new technologies.In conjunction, the Government's Generative AI framework outlines that only corporately assured Generative AI tools should be used to process HMG information.

How many people worked in the No. 10 foreign policy team on (a) 31 October 2024 and (b) 11 December 2024.

For management and staffing purposes the Prime Minister’s Office is part of the Cabinet Office. All staff in the Prime Minister’s Office support the work of the Prime Minister to ensure the effective running of government.