Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what artificial intelligence services or tools are used by their department; and whether the department has a contract with each provider of those services.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
The Government is committed to adopting artificial intelligence in a way that is transparent, responsible and accountable to the public.
Information about algorithmic and AI tools used by government departments to support decisions that affect members of the public, or that have a significant influence on a decision-making process with public effect, is published through the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS). The ATRS has been mandatory for central government departments since 2024, and records are published on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/algorithmic-transparency-records. In addition, departments may use other internal tools which do not fall within the scope of the Standard.
In line with public procurement transparency requirements, departments publish contractual information for AI services and tools on Contracts Finder and, where above the relevant threshold, on the Find a Tender Service.
AI services and tools are accessed across government through a range of commercial routes. Departments may contract directly with AI providers, access AI products via intermediated routes such as reseller arrangements where the contractual relationship sits with a partner rather than the underlying provider, or use AI capabilities delivered as features within existing enterprise software and platform contracts (for example productivity, HR or service management tools).
Departments remain responsible in all cases for ensuring compliance with procurement legislation, securing value for money, and publishing relevant contractual information in line with transparency requirements.
The Scotland Office uses the information technology system provided and operated by the Cabinet Office, which has responsibility for all hardware and software procurement, administration, support maintenance, security, and integrity of the system. This includes artificial intelligence services and tools.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what artificial intelligence services or tools are used by their department; and whether the department has a contract with each provider of those services.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
The Government is committed to adopting artificial intelligence in a way that is transparent, responsible and accountable to the public.
Information about algorithmic and AI tools used by government departments to support decisions that affect members of the public, or that have a significant influence on a decision-making process with public effect, is published through the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS). The ATRS has been mandatory for central government departments since 2024, and records are published on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/algorithmic-transparency-records. In addition, departments may use other internal tools which do not fall within the scope of the Standard.
In line with public procurement transparency requirements, departments publish contractual information for AI services and tools on Contracts Finder and, where above the relevant threshold, on the Find a Tender Service.
AI services and tools are accessed across government through a range of commercial routes. Departments may contract directly with AI providers, access AI products via intermediated routes such as reseller arrangements where the contractual relationship sits with a partner rather than the underlying provider or use AI capabilities delivered as features within existing enterprise software and platform contracts (for example productivity, HR or service management tools).
Departments remain responsible in all cases for ensuring compliance with procurement legislation, securing value for money, and publishing relevant contractual information in line with transparency requirements.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what artificial intelligence services or tools are used by their department; and whether the department has a contract with each provider of those services.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government is committed to adopting artificial intelligence in a way that is transparent, responsible and accountable to the public.
Information about algorithmic and AI tools used by government departments to support decisions that affect members of the public, or that have a significant influence on a decision-making process with public effect, is published through the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS). The ATRS has been mandatory for central government departments since 2024, and records are published on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/algorithmic-transparency-records. In addition, departments may use other internal tools which do not fall within the scope of the Standard.
In line with public procurement transparency requirements, departments publish contractual information for AI services and tools on Contracts Finder and, where above the relevant threshold, on the Find a Tender Service. GPC card may be used for localised trials of AI products to a small, controlled group of internal technical users. This spend is tightly governed and details published externally in accordance with GPC spend guidelines.
AI services and tools are accessed across government through a range of commercial routes.
Departments may contract directly with AI providers, access AI products via intermediated routes such as reseller arrangements where the contractual relationship sits with a partner rather than the underlying provider, or use AI capabilities delivered as features within existing enterprise software and platform contracts (for example productivity, HR or service management tools).
Departments remain responsible in all cases for ensuring compliance with procurement legislation, securing value for money, and publishing relevant contractual information in line with transparency requirements.
Microsoft 365 Copilot is procured through existing cross‑government commercial arrangements and is used to support productivity, improve access to information, and enhance the efficiency of day-to-day business operations.
The Department has established governance and assurance processes to ensure the safe, proportionate and responsible use of AI, including guidance for staff, and oversight of how tools are applied in practice.
In specialist Digital and Data Science teams the use of Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude and OpenAI GPT models is also permitted for small, controlled groups of technical users using non-contractual purchase methods. This spend is tightly governed and details published externally as appropriate.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what artificial intelligence services or tools are used by their department; and whether the department has a contract with each provider of those services.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government is committed to adopting artificial intelligence in a way that is transparent, responsible and accountable to the public. The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) provides officials, Ministers and special advisers with access to a secure, enterprise-grade generative AI tool that has been assured to the appropriate security standards and approved for official use.
Information about algorithmic and AI tools used by government departments to support decisions that affect members of the public, or that have a significant influence on a decision-making process with public effect, is published through the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS). The ATRS has been mandatory for central government departments since 2024, and records are published on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/algorithmic-transparency-records. In addition, departments may use other internal tools which do not fall within the scope of the Standard.
In line with public procurement transparency requirements, departments publish contractual information for AI services and tools on Contracts Finder and, where above the relevant threshold, on the Find a Tender Service.
AI services and tools are accessed across government through a range of commercial routes. Departments may contract directly with AI providers, access AI products via intermediated routes such as reseller arrangements where the contractual relationship sits with a partner rather than the underlying provider, or use AI capabilities delivered as features within existing enterprise software and platform contracts (for example productivity, HR or service management tools).
Departments remain responsible in all cases for ensuring compliance with procurement legislation, securing value for money, and publishing relevant contractual information in line with transparency requirements.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what artificial intelligence services or tools are used by their department; and whether the department has a contract with each provider of those services.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
The Government is committed to adopting artificial intelligence in a way that is transparent, responsible and accountable to the public.
Information about algorithmic and AI tools used by government departments to support decisions that affect members of the public, or that have a significant influence on a decision-making process with public effect, is published through the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS). The ATRS has been mandatory for central government departments since 2024, and records are published on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/algorithmic-transparency-records. In addition, Departments may use other internal tools which do not fall within the scope of the Standard.
In line with public procurement transparency requirements, Departments publish contractual information for AI services and tools on Contracts Finder and, where above the relevant threshold, on the Find a Tender Service.
AI services and tools are accessed across government through a range of commercial routes. Departments may contract directly with AI providers, access AI products via intermediated routes such as reseller arrangements where the contractual relationship sits with a partner rather than the underlying provider, or use AI capabilities delivered as features within existing enterprise software and platform contracts (for example productivity, HR or service management tools).
Departments remain responsible in all cases for ensuring compliance with procurement legislation, securing value for money, and publishing relevant contractual information in line with transparency requirements.
The Ministry of Justice uses a range of AI-powered tools and services to support frontline operations and general staff productivity, providing capabilities such as transcription and summarisation, semantic search, and data analytics. All our procured AI tools have associated cross government commercial agreements or direct agreements with vendors such as Microsoft, OpenAI and Amazon Web Services.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Playground Fund will be expanded to additional local authorities.
Answered by Nesil Caliskan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The £18m Playgrounds Fund is a targeted programme to improve children’s access to safe, inclusive, high‑quality local play spaces in communities where it has fallen furthest behind. This investment in playgrounds reflects the Government’s commitment to give children the best start in life. At this stage, we have no current plans to expand the Playgrounds Fund to additional local authorities.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to encourage active travel for business use.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
As set out in the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, published on 12 June, the Government is projected to invest £4.5 billion up to 2030 for active travel. This includes £1.1 billion of funding for Active Travel England, of which £760 million will be provided to local authorities to help them deliver local walking, wheeling and cycling schemes, including to support active travel for business use and for commuting.
ATE is additionally providing £3.1 million to the Modeshift Sustainable Travel Accreditation and Recognition Scheme (STARS) programme up to 2028/29, which also supports travel planning for businesses.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of pupils who have moved from independent schools to state schools since the introduction of VAT on independent school fees.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
School closure information is available via the register of schools, which is accessible at: https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/.
The latest school census data, as at June 2026, reveals pupil numbers remain firmly within historical patterns seen for over the last 20 years. Further information is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2025-26.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of independent schools in England that have closed since the introduction of VAT on school fees.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
School closure information is available via the register of schools, which is accessible at: https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/.
The latest school census data, as at June 2026, reveals pupil numbers remain firmly within historical patterns seen for over the last 20 years. Further information is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2025-26.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the financial penalty incurred by South West Water at Exeter Magistrates' Court on 2 June 2026 will be paid into the Water Restoration Fund.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Successful projects for the Water Restoration Fund (WRF) were announced in October 2025. These projects are now in delivery and there are no plans for further application rounds.
On 20 January 2026, government announced alongside the White Paper that £29 million in water company fines will support further local water improvement projects through catchment partnerships, the Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF) and Water and Abandoned Metal Mines (WAMM) Programme.
These funds were based on environmental fines and penalties collected from water and sewerage companies.
Government will confirm how any future income from environmental fines and penalties will be spent in due course, after the balance has been paid.