Every parliamentary written question tabled by Iqbal Mohamed this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 121–140 of 240 · this parliament
What the annual cost is of Government contracts for the licensing of a) Zoom, b) Microsoft, c) Amazon d) Google computing platforms for the civil service.
Information on the annual cost of Government contracts for licensing across the Civil Service is not held centrally.
Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of US-UK trade agreements on (a) drug prices and (b) levels of excess deaths in the NHS.
Costs of the United States and United Kingdom pharmaceuticals trade deal will start smaller but will increase over time as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approves more medicines. Total costs over the spending review period are expected to be approximately £1 billion. However, the final costs will depend on which medicines NICE decides to approve and the actual uptake.We have no plans to publish an impact assessment for the deal. Innovative medicines are critical to the future success and sustainability of the National Health Service. It is only by harnessing the power of new technologies that we can transform the lives of patients with currently untreatable conditions. Medicines are more than just a cost, bringing major societal and economic benefits, helping people stay in work, reducing pressure on public services, or giving patients a second chance at life.The deal will be funded by allocations made at the Spending Review, where record funding for the NHS was secured. Future funding will be settled at the next Spending Review.Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are routinely published quarterly on the GOV.UK website in arrears. Officials from the Department have engaged extensively with patient groups, pharmaceutical companies and trade bodies. The Government has committed to working with industry in the coming months on the future of medicines pricing and will also engage patient groups in this process.
Whether he plans to provide extra resource to the NHS to offset changes to drug prices under US-UK trade agreements.
Costs of the United States and United Kingdom pharmaceuticals trade deal will start smaller but will increase over time as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approves more medicines. Total costs over the spending review period are expected to be approximately £1 billion. However, the final costs will depend on which medicines NICE decides to approve and the actual uptake.We have no plans to publish an impact assessment for the deal. Innovative medicines are critical to the future success and sustainability of the National Health Service. It is only by harnessing the power of new technologies that we can transform the lives of patients with currently untreatable conditions. Medicines are more than just a cost, bringing major societal and economic benefits, helping people stay in work, reducing pressure on public services, or giving patients a second chance at life.The deal will be funded by allocations made at the Spending Review, where record funding for the NHS was secured. Future funding will be settled at the next Spending Review.Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are routinely published quarterly on the GOV.UK website in arrears. Officials from the Department have engaged extensively with patient groups, pharmaceutical companies and trade bodies. The Government has committed to working with industry in the coming months on the future of medicines pricing and will also engage patient groups in this process.
What discussions he has held with a) Pharmaceutical companies, b) Pharmaceutical industry groups and c) patient groups and charities on the US-UK Pharmaceuticals deal.
Costs of the United States and United Kingdom pharmaceuticals trade deal will start smaller but will increase over time as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approves more medicines. Total costs over the spending review period are expected to be approximately £1 billion. However, the final costs will depend on which medicines NICE decides to approve and the actual uptake.We have no plans to publish an impact assessment for the deal. Innovative medicines are critical to the future success and sustainability of the National Health Service. It is only by harnessing the power of new technologies that we can transform the lives of patients with currently untreatable conditions. Medicines are more than just a cost, bringing major societal and economic benefits, helping people stay in work, reducing pressure on public services, or giving patients a second chance at life.The deal will be funded by allocations made at the Spending Review, where record funding for the NHS was secured. Future funding will be settled at the next Spending Review.Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are routinely published quarterly on the GOV.UK website in arrears. Officials from the Department have engaged extensively with patient groups, pharmaceutical companies and trade bodies. The Government has committed to working with industry in the coming months on the future of medicines pricing and will also engage patient groups in this process.
Whether the House will be given an opportunity to debate and vote on UK support for US operations in Iran.
The Prime Minister has provided an update to Parliament through an oral statement on 2 March 2026.
Whether RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia (a) are being used and (b) will be used in the future by the United States for military operations against Iran; and whether operations from these bases are involved in offensive strikes.
As announced by the Prime Minister on 1 March 2026, the Government agreed to a US request to use British bases for specific and limited defensive purposes. The agreement allowing the US to use UK miliary bases is for specific and limited defensive action against missile facilities in Iran
What legal advice he has received on the compatibility of allowing US use of RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia with the United Nations Charter, including Articles 2(4) and 51.
A summary of the Government’s legal position was published on gov.uk on 1 March 2026. This can be found at the followed address: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/summary-of-the-uk-government-legal-position-the-legality-of-defensive-action-in-respect-of-iranian-regional-attacks. Since this has been published, the Government has notified the United Nations Security Council of relevant actions taken under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has had discussions with the Electoral Commission on reporting by Labour Together between 2017 and 2020.
The Electoral Commission is the independent body which regulates elections and political finance in the UK. The Department does not intervene in, or comment on, the handling of individual cases or the regulatory decisions of the Electoral Commission. Officials regularly engage with the Electoral Commission on matters of policy development and the operation of the electoral and political finance framework.
Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of creating a UK Government cloud computing system independent from technology multinationals' services.
The Government recognises the importance of a secure and resilient cloud infrastructure for the delivery of digital public services. As set out in the Roadmap for Modern Digital Government (2026), the government is developing a National Cloud Strategy. As part of this, the government will assess how to strengthen the security and resilience of UK cloud infrastructure and improve the cloud ecosystem.
What information his Department holds on whether Government Departments have sought advice from Labour Together on policy development.
This information is not held centrally.
What information his Department held on Labour Together's report into journalists prior to the hon. Member for Makerfield’s appointment as Parliamentary Secretary.
There is an established process in place for the appointment of Ministers. Advice, which may or may not have been provided to the Prime Minister as part of this process, is treated in confidence.
What discussions the Prime Minister had with the then-UK Ambassador to the US on visiting Palantir head offices in Washington DC in February 2025.
I refer the Hon Member to my answer of 10th March 2026, Official Report, PQ 112839.
What was the purpose of the Prime Minister's visit to Palantir head offices in Washington DC in February 2025.
I refer the Hon Member to my answer of 10th March 2026, Official Report, PQ 112839.
If his Department will take steps to (a) review all existing contract with Palantir and (b) suspend any further engagement with company until the investigations into Peter Mandelson are completed.
All contracts for any firm go through rigorous departmental processes and their decision makers. Contracts procured by Government departments are done so in line with procurement law. This was the case with all contracts to Palantir. We utilise a range of suppliers based on operational requirements, value for money, and compliance with our security and legal obligations, with all suppliers subject to rigorous due diligence. There are robust processes in place to ensure government contracts are awarded fairly and transparently.
With reference to her comments to the BBC on 11 August 2025, whether her Department presented information to the courts during legal proceedings relating to the proscription of Palestine Action on people who are objecting to that proscription because they don't know the full nature of the organisation as a result of court restrictions on reporting while serious prosecutions are under way; and if she will publish this information.
The material relied upon by the Court in its decision making is referenced throughout the judgment which is publicly available here: R (Ammori) v SSHD OPEN Judgment (final)The open material referred to during the proceedings can be requested from the court in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules on Court documents see: PART 5 – COURT DOCUMENTS – Civil Procedure Rules – Justice UK. Any material submitted in closed proceedings is protected by the Justice and Security Act 2013 and will not be disclosed for reasons of national security. It would not be appropriate to comment further during ongoing legal proceedings.The Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation has access to secret and sensitive national security information in order to carry out his role. He routinely publishes his findings in reports that are available on his website: https://terrorismlegislationreviewer.independent.gov.uk/
If he will include AI loss-of-control scenarios will be included in the next edition of the National Risk Register.
The UK is facing an ever-changing and growing set of risks. All risks in the National Risk Register are kept under review to ensure that they are the most appropriate scenarios to inform emergency preparedness and resilience activity.The challenges posed by artificial intelligence are referenced in the 2025 National Risk Register as a chronic risk, and incorporated in the Chronic Risks Analysis, the UK's first bespoke assessment for medium to long-term challenges facing the nation.The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)’s AI risk register covers the full spectrum of AI risks that could impact the UK, spanning national security, defence, the economy and society. The AI Risk Register includes AI-loss-of control scenarios. The Government is committed to protecting UK citizens against the risks that advanced AI could bring, while ensuring we can maximise AI's potential for growth and public service delivery.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help ensure that retailers and supermarkets display clear and consistent animal welfare information on packing and labels to help consumers to make informed choices.
As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy, we are committed to ensuring that consumers have access to clear information on how their food was produced. To support this, the Government will continue working with relevant stakeholders, including the farming and food industry, scientists and NGOs to explore how improved animal welfare food labelling could provide greater consumer transparency, support farmers and promote better animal welfare. The Government will set out next steps in due course.
Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Food Standards Agency on the 2024 Fairer Food Labelling consultation; and if will she implement a mandatory method-of-production labelling on animal food products in England.
As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy, we are committed to ensuring that consumers have access to clear information on how their food was produced. To support this, the Government will continue working with relevant stakeholders, including the farming and food industry, scientists and NGOs to explore how improved animal welfare food labelling could provide greater consumer transparency, support farmers and promote better animal welfare. The Government will set out next steps in due course.
Food and Rural Affairs, if will she publish clear timelines for the delivery of all commitments in the Animal Welfare Strategy.
The Animal Welfare Strategy sets out the priority issues the Government will address, focusing on the changes and improvements Defra aims to achieve by 2030. Policies will be delivered throughout this time. Defra has already launched consultations on phasing out cages for laying hens and improving lamb welfare which run until 9 March. Defra has also confirmed that a public consultation seeking views on how to deliver a full ban on trail hunting will be held this year. Other commitments in the strategy will be taken forward in a phased approach to keep up momentum on improving the lives of millions of animals.
Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to secure a debate on animal welfare and progress on the animal welfare strategy.
A Westminster Hall Debate on the Animal Welfare Strategy was held on 21 January 2026. Parliament will be updated in the usual way as the Strategy progresses.