Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether AI companies under contract to the Armed Services could be legally required to operate a) fully autonomous lethal operations and b) mass surveillance.

Working with suppliers, Defence applies rigorous commercial procurement, assurance, and governance processes to procure and deploy cutting edge AI technology, in accordance with our legal obligations and our published Ethical Principles. Engagement with industry is conducted solely within agreed contractual arrangements; the Department does not compel companies outside of contracts. The Department explicitly rules out the development or use of autonomous capabilities which operate without context appropriate human involvement and conducts only lawful and proportionate surveillance.