Jeremy Hunt gave advice at a Conservative fundraiser to a senior Fujitsu executive who lobbied him in relation to government spending on AI and supercomputers, according to released emails.
Keith Dear – a former Downing street adviser who leads the firm’s work on quantum, supercomputers and next-generation AI – wrote to Hunt a day after a Conservative party fundraiser at the end of September.
Fujitsu’s lucrative government contracts subsequently came under scrutiny amid a renewed focus on its role in the Horizon scandal.
Correspondence released to the Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act show that Dear emailed Hunt a day after the fundraiser in Chingford. He copied in Clark Vasey, who has been Fujitsu UK’s head of corporate affairs since 2014 and a director of the rightwing Blue Collar Conservatives group.
Dear reminded Hunt in the email that he had asked about the chancellor’s plans to ringfence “digital transformation” funds for departments in the next spending review – and who would be the right civil servant to approach about it.
“You suggested that we contact [the then Treasury minister] John Glen, and asked that I email the request to you, to give you a chance to consider which of the Treasury’s civil servants would be the most appropriate point of contact,” added Dear.
He recalled that the men had previously discussed Fujitsu’s work on quantum, supercomputing and next-generation AI. Dear said he was “keen” to help departments bid realistically and with the right degree of ambition.
The disclosure is the latest insight into the influence and access to government officials enjoyed by Fujitsu, the firm behind the faulty Horizon IT system. It has said it will pause bids for government contracts while an inquiry looks into how the software provided evidence to the Post Office that helped wrongfully convict more than 700 post office operators.
The Labour MP and shadow attorney general, Emily Thornberry, said: “The VIP lane for PPE may be closed, but the same old informal route for Tory cronies appears to be fully open for business.
“If the Treasury claim the ministerial code was followed in this case, they should publish the accounts that the chancellor gave to his department of the two conversations he held with Mr Dear on government business at successive Tory fundraising events. And, if those records do not exist, Mr Hunt needs to explain why.”
The Guardian reported earlier this month that the business secretary, Kemi Badenoch, failed to raise the issue of the Horizon scandal or compensation for post office operators when she met Fujitsu at Davos last year, instead focusing on asking the firm for its views on investing in the UK.
A Fujitsu spokesperson said: “Dr Keith Dear attended as a guest.
“Tickets were purchased personally by attendees. Fujitsu was not engaged in or supporting the event. No donation was made at the event or subsequently,” said a spokesperson.
“Dr Dear spoke very briefly with the chancellor on the government’s technology priorities. As a leading expert in emerging technologies, Dr Dear speaks regularly to the UK government and other international governments and bodies on issues relating to next-generation AI, quantum and high performance computing.”
A government spokesperson said: “All requirements under the ministerial code were complied with, and it is normal practice for ministers and officials to engage on a regular basis with a range of stakeholders to discuss government policy.
“Government contracts are decided through fair and open competition. We welcome Fujitsu’s decision to pause bidding for work with new government customers until such time as the statutory inquiry into the Horizon scandal concludes.”
