Written questions by McDonald.

Given the passage of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, under what statutory authority are significant Automated Decision-Making being made or intended to be made.

Awaiting answer.

How are automated decision-making systems used in relation to civil service employment, including recruitment, performance management, discipline and allocation of work.

Awaiting answer.

Given the passage of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, what measures are in place to ensure that human oversight is substantive and effective.

Awaiting answer.

Given the passage of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, how does the Department define and ensure meaningful human involvement in decisions supported or made by automated systems.

Awaiting answer.

Given the passage of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, what processes are in place to enable individuals to seek human review and to challenge decisions made by automated systems.

Awaiting answer.

Given the passage of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, how individuals are informed that decisions affecting them have been taken, in whole or in part, by automated means.

Awaiting answer.

Given the passage of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, what safeguards have been implemented to ensure compliance with statutory requirements relating to automated decision-making, including rights to information, human review, and challenge.

Awaiting answer.

Given the passage of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, what guidance has the Department issued internally to ensure compliance with the provisions of the 2025 Act in relation to automated decision-making.

Awaiting answer.

Whether the Department maintains a public register or internal inventory of automated decision-making systems.

Awaiting answer.

Given the passage of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, how does the Department ensure compliance with data protection requirements relating to the processing of special category data, including data relating to health or protected characteristics.

Awaiting answer.

What steps has the Department taken to assess and help prevent bias and discrimination following the use of automated decision-making systems.

Awaiting answer.

What consultation has taken place with recognised trade unions regarding the introduction or use of automated decision-making systems affecting staff.

Awaiting answer.

How many people of state pension age there are in (a) Middlesbrough and Thornaby East constituency, (b) Middlesbrough local authority area, (c) Tees Valley combined authority area and (d) the North East.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 11th June is attached.

What steps his Department is taking to review the effectiveness of meeting contractual requirements in outsourced services provided to government departments.

The National Procurement Policy Statement will set out the Government’s policy priorities, and contracting authorities will have to have regard to it when carrying out procurements. The Policy Statement will consult on introducing a new public interest test to assess whether work should be outsourced or if it could be done more effectively and drive better value for money in-house. We have begun to assess the areas of Government that could be done more effectively in house, and where there may be compelling reasons for Government to develop their own capabilities and capacity to deliver good value for money and better public services.

If he will initiate a programme of insourcing of facilities and maintenance services in government departments.

The National Procurement Policy Statement will set out the Government’s policy priorities, and contracting authorities will have to have regard to it when carrying out procurements. The Policy Statement will consult on introducing a new public interest test to assess whether work should be outsourced or if it could be done more effectively and drive better value for money in-house. We have begun to assess the areas of Government that could be done more effectively in house, and where there may be compelling reasons for Government to develop their own capabilities and capacity to deliver good value for money and better public services.

What steps he is taking to tackle(a) insecure work and (b) level of pay for workers employed in outsourced services in government departments.

The Employment Rights Bill will ensure the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation. This will include the introduction of the Two-Tier Code which will ensure fair and equitable employment conditions for public sector workers who have been transferred and private sector workers who work alongside them on public service contracts.

What steps his Department plans to take to enable the government to break with outsourced government contracts in the case where the desired outcomes are not delivered.

The National Procurement Policy Statement will set out the Government’s policy priorities, and contracting authorities will have to have regard to it when carrying out procurements. The Policy Statement will consult on introducing a new public interest test to assess whether work should be outsourced or if it could be done more effectively and drive better value for money in-house. We have begun to assess the areas of Government that could be done more effectively in house, and where there may be compelling reasons for Government to develop their own capabilities and capacity to deliver good value for money and better public services.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure the Infected Blood Compensation Authority begins (a) assessing claims and (b) making payments before the end of 2024.

The Cabinet Office is supporting the Infected Blood Compensation Authority with its aim to design a compensation service that is simple to use, easy to access and securely pays out money as quickly as possible. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority is...

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure the Infected Blood Compensation Authority can make effective determinations on compensation where medical records of applicants are unavailable.

Given the historic nature of the infected blood scandal, the Government recognises that not all medical records will still be available. The Scheme has been designed to minimise as far as possible the burden on those applying, and as set out in the Infect...