Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord O'Shaughnessy on 6 December (HL11728), what explanation they have received regarding Google’s plans for DeepMind Health; what assurances they have received that data transferred as part of the integration of DeepMind Health into Google cannot be used by any Google subsidiary; and whether the adequacy of these any arrangements in this regard will be independently verified.

We have sought reassurance that none of the current contracts with National Health Service trusts will be transferred to Google, and any changes will require the agreement of the trusts. The patient data processed for Streams will remain controlled by the trusts, and will not be used for any purpose other than the provision of direct patient care, as specified in existing agreements.

We are working with DeepMind and Google as they consider how to provide assurance on the use of patient data as Streams grows into a global product. The Code of Conduct for Data Driven Technologies sets out the principles that we expect NHS trusts and industry partners to follow.