Written questions by Wrigley.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of dynamic pricing practices used by airlines during school holiday periods on families with school-aged children.

The UK aviation sector operates as a private market, with airlines independently determining their routes and fare structures. The Minister for Aviation and DfT officials regularly meet airlines to discuss a range of topics, including pricing.The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has statutory competition functions in relation to airline markets. The CMA and the CAA both have responsibilities for enforcing consumer protections relating to price transparency, contract terms and passenger rights, including those during flight disruption.

What role her Department has in providing oversight and assurance where public confidence in policing has been undermined by media reporting and documentary evidence; and whether there are existing independent bodies and review mechanisms to which such concerns should appropriately be directed.

This Department supports the police and is clear that public confidence is crucial to our model of policing by consent. We hold our police to the highest of standards and expect action to be taken where this confidence is undermined. There are a number of measures in place to help ensure this.The Home Secretary has powers to direct targeted inspections by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) where there are specific concerns. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) oversees the police complaints system under which the public can raise concerns directly with the Professional Standards Department in their local police force or via the IOPC. The most serious and sensitive matters, including deaths or serious injuries involving the police, must be sent immediately by forces to the IOPC and the IOPC determines if it is necessary for such matters to be independently investigated. The IOPC, which has a statutory duty to maintain public confidence in the system, also has powers to “call in” a referral or to investigate such matters that have come to its attention on its own initiative, without waiting for a referral.We set out plans for policing reform in the recent White Paper, From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” on 26 January, including reforms to increase accountability and standards.Finally, the independent Angiolini Inquiry is currently examining a range of issues in policing such as vetting, recruitment and culture in policing and the Home Office will carefully consider its findings when available.

What protections exist for police (a) officers and (b) staff who (i) raise and (ii) disclose (A) historical and (B) modern (1) concerns and (2) wrongdoing.

Serving police officers and police staff in England and Wales are given protections in law against detriment (adverse treatment), if they “blow the whistle” about wrongdoing by their forces or colleagues, providing certain conditions are met. This includes making disclosures about (A) historic or (B) recent or concurrent issues.The protections in law include protections from reprisal or unfair dismissal. Separately, police officers are required by law to report any wrongdoing by colleagues that they witness or find out about.There are internal whistleblowing routes available for police officers and staff in police forces and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) also has its own dedicated reporting line specifically for police officers and staff to report concerns. The Director General of the IOPC is a “prescribed body” for whistleblowing disclosures as listed in the Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2014.In addition, the Government is exploring options to amend legislation to allow police officers to use the public complaints system where there are allegations of police-perpetrated domestic abuse.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the phase 5 rail resilience programme in the context of water levels in 2026.

We remain committed to concluding the works necessary on this route to mitigate the remaining risks identified in the Southwest Rail Resilience Programme. Network Rail is commencing work on a drainage trial, removing water from a section of the cliffs between Parsons Tunnel and Teignmouth. This trial, along with further ground investigation work, will provide detailed data to inform consideration of a proposal for a long-term solution in due course. Despite the intensity of recent weather, the railway was only closed during the storms themselves, and the impact on the area covered by Phase 5 of the Programme did not affect the availability of the line.

When the new dementia framework will be published.

The first ever Modern Service framework for Frailty and Dementia will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care. The commission is underway and phase one will report this year.We intend to engage with a range of partners over the coming months to enable us to build a framework which is both ambitious and practical, to ensure we can improve system performance for people with dementia both now and in the future. We are working to develop the content as soon as possible and we will keep partners updated on progress and timings as this work unfolds.

What procurement process was followed for the agreement with Palantir Technologies for defence data analytics capabilities; and whether any Ministers and former officials with prior links to Palantir were involved at any stage of that process.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) let the Palantir Enterprise Agreement contract in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. The contract was direct awarded under the justifications outlined in Section 41, Schedule 5.The Direct award justifications were as follows: - Paragraph 6:o The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract—(a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and(b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. - Paragraph 7:o The public contract concerns the supply of goods, services or works by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to, or partial replacement of, existing goods, services or works in circumstances where—(a)a change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods, services or works that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing goods, services or works, and(b)the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance. The MOD can confirm that no Ministers and former officials with prior links to Palantir were involved at any stage of that process. The decision to award this contract was the Secretary of State for Defence’s. The MOD conducts continuous conflict-of-interest assessments for all individuals involved in commercial activity of any manner. The MOD conducts comprehensive due diligence upon the notification of any business appointments that may lead to concern. MOD holds a Business Appointments Policy under JSP 492 that outlines the processes and guidelines for assessing these situations. Should an appointment create a concern MOD can place conditions upon that individual that can include:- Restricting the sharing of information- Prohibition of lobbying for a set period of time- Restrictions on advising on ongoing commercial activity- Seeking clearance of ongoing commissionsThe conditions and associated timeframes for them are set based upon the seniority of the individual involved and the nature of the appointment. MOD continues to work diligently to ensure this is appropriately managed and enforced.

Whether his Department conducted a conflict‑of‑interest assessment prior to awarding recent defence contracts to Palantir Technologies.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) conducts continuous conflict-of-interest assessments for all individuals involved in commercial activity of any manner. In addition, the MOD conducts comprehensive due diligence upon the notification of any business appointments that may lead to concern. MOD holds a Business Appointments Policy under JSP 492 that outlines the processes and guidelines for assessing these situations. Should an appointment create a concern the MOD can place conditions upon that individual that can include:- Restricting the sharing of information- Prohibition of lobbying for a set period of time- Restrictions on advising on ongoing commercial activity- Seeking clearance of ongoing commissionsThe conditions and associated timeframes for them are set based upon the seniority of the individual involved and the nature of the appointment.

Whether any Freedom of Information requests concerning Palantir Technologies have been refused since 2023.

All FOI requests are handled in accordance with the legislation, including the application of relevant exemptions where applicable.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether any declarations of interest were made by persons involved in arranging and attending the Prime Minister’s visit to Palantir Technologies’ headquarters.

I refer the Hon. Member to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12 February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has reviewed any potential conflict‑of‑interest issues arising from Lord Mandelson’s involvement with Global Counsel, including in relation to introductions made to Palantir Technologies.

I refer the Hon. Member to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12 February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Whether any Freedom of Information requests seeking briefings, minutes and internal reports concerning Palantir Technologies have been refused since 2023.

Since January 2023, the Department has received and answered 17 Freedom of Information (FOI) requests seeking briefings, minutes, and internal reports concerning Palantir. The FOI Act provides several exemptions that allow public bodies to withhold information in particular circumstances. Exemptions exist to protect information that should not be disclosed, for example because disclosing it would be harmful to another person or it would be against the public interest.Of these requests, where information was withheld in part, this was almost exclusively because it constituted personal or contact information. In one case some information was withheld as it related to policy formulation. Information released included briefings and minutes of meetings. Those requests that were refused in full were due to cost or because the request required clarification.

Whether his Department maintains a central record of all government contracts awarded to Palantir Technologies; and what the value of those contracts was since 2019.

Palantir is not a strategic supplier and therefore information held by the Cabinet Office is limited. Details of central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February 2025, are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service.

What guidance governs the recording and publication of meetings between Ministers and private‑sector suppliers held during overseas visits.

I refer the Hon Member back to the answer given in UIN 103308.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure full transparency regarding meetings Ministers and senior officials have held with Palantir Technologies; and whether records of those meetings are held centrally.

Government departments are required to publish details of Ministers’ and certain senior officials', including Permanent Secretaries and Director Generals, meetings with external individuals and organisations every quarter.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 84973 on Car-Hill formula, when he plans to publish the conclusions of that review.

The review of the Carr-Hill formula has been commissioned through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and commenced in October 2025. The first phase of the review is expected to conclude in March 2026. Subject to ministerial decision, further work would subsequently be undertaken to technically develop and model any proposed changes to the formula.The review will be published in due course by the NIHR. Members of Parliament will also be updated once the review findings are available.

Whether he plans to bring forwards an alternative to the Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill.

The UK is a world leader in audit quality and corporate governance. We will bolster this further by launching a consultation to modernise, simplify and streamline the UK's corporate reporting framework, with the ambition to make the UK's reporting regime the most proportionate in the world. We also intend to legislate to put the Financial Reporting Council on a proper statutory footing when parliamentary time allows.

What process her Department uses for (a) approving and (b) being consulted on pilot deployments of AI-enabled policing tools that integrate sensitive personal data; and what criteria are used to assess such proposals.

Through Home Office funding to the NPCC AI portfolio we have produced and published detailed guidance on responsible use of AI, via the NPCC AI Playbook and Covenant. Building AI-enabled tools and systems | College of Policing. The NPCC AI lead, Alex Murray, has also worked with the College of Policing to produce Authorised Professional Practice in this area and a ‘Responsible AI’ checklist.It is the responsibility of Chief Constables to decide what tools they deploy within their force. All Chief Constables have signed up to the Covenant, which establishes core principles for the transparent, responsible and accountable use of AI and generative technologies in UK policing. Forces should pay due regard to these principles when implementing AI tools in force.Further to this, as a part of the Police Reform White Paper, the UK Government is announced the establishment of Police.AI, a new national centre for AI in policing focused on helping forces adopt AI tools responsibly and the set up of a new National Data Integration and Exploitation Service (NDIES).Police.AI will ensure that operationally independent Chief Constables have the evidence and resources they need to ensure the AI they are using has proven benefits, is backed by robust evidence and is maximising accuracy whilst minimising bias. We are also creating a public-facing registry of AI deployments in policing, setting out what each tool does, why it is used, the risks identified, and how these risks are being mitigated, encouraging careful reflection on the merits and risks of each tool.

What role her Department has in (a) overseeing and (b) advising on pilot deployments of novel AI systems that process sensitive personal data in policing.

Through Home Office funding to the NPCC AI portfolio we have produced and published detailed guidance on responsible use of AI, via the NPCC AI Playbook and Covenant. Building AI-enabled tools and systems | College of Policing. The NPCC AI lead, Alex Murray, has also worked with the College of Policing to produce Authorised Professional Practice in this area and a ‘Responsible AI’ checklist.It is the responsibility of Chief Constables to decide what tools they deploy within their force. All Chief Constables have signed up to the Covenant, which establishes core principles for the transparent, responsible and accountable use of AI and generative technologies in UK policing. Forces should pay due regard to these principles when implementing AI tools in force.Further to this, as a part of the Police Reform White Paper, the UK Government is announced the establishment of Police.AI, a new national centre for AI in policing focused on helping forces adopt AI tools responsibly and the set up of a new National Data Integration and Exploitation Service (NDIES).Police.AI will ensure that operationally independent Chief Constables have the evidence and resources they need to ensure the AI they are using has proven benefits, is backed by robust evidence and is maximising accuracy whilst minimising bias. We are also creating a public-facing registry of AI deployments in policing, setting out what each tool does, why it is used, the risks identified, and how these risks are being mitigated, encouraging careful reflection on the merits and risks of each tool.

Innovation and Technology, whether her Department (a) maintains and (b) plans to maintain a register of AI systems across government.

The Government Digital Service is implementing the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS), which provides a standardised way for departments and arm’s length bodies to publish information about algorithmic tools they use that significantly influence decisions or interact with the public. ATRS records are published in a central repository on GOV.UK, and more records are being added regularly as part of a phased mandatory rollout across government, providing a cross‑government mechanism to maintain and expand transparency over these systems.

What standards her Department sets for the ethical and technical assurance of AI systems used in law enforcement.

Although ethical decisions around AI are the responsibility of individual Chief Constables and heads of law enforcement agencies, the Home Office is taking steps to ensure these decisions are evidence-based and transparent.The Covenant for Using Artificial Intelligence in Policing provides a high-level framework for AI adoption by police forces. It sets out clear principles for the development and deployment of AI in policing, including lawfulness, fairness, transparency, explainability, accountability and robustness. These principles operate alongside existing statutory obligations, including the Equality Act 2010 and data protection legislation, and are supported by published guidance from the College of Policing and local governance and ethics arrangements within forces. We expect all law enforcement agencies to work within the current laws.In January 2026 the Police Reform White Paper set out plans to establish a new national centre for AI in policing which will be tasked with accelerating the rapid and responsible adoption of AI across forces. It will centralise the development, testing and evaluation of AI tools, support consistent application of assurance standards before deployment, and promote transparency through a public-facing registry of police AI use. It will move into the National Police Service.In addition, the Home Office launched a public consultation last year on a new legal framework for law enforcement use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies. The consultation sought views on when and how these technologies should be used and what safeguards and oversight are needed. The consultation has now closed, and the responses received will inform the scope and content of future legal changes.