Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, 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.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
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 commissions
The 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.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department conducted a conflict‑of‑interest assessment prior to awarding recent defence contracts to Palantir Technologies.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
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 commissions
The conditions and associated timeframes for them are set based upon the seniority of the individual involved and the nature of the appointment.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria his Department uses to assess requirements to rebuild underlying data analytics architecture, undertake fresh security accreditation and retrain personnel.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) keeps its data analytics infrastructure, security assurance processes and workforce skills under continual review. Decisions to rebuild underlying data analytics architecture are based on whether current systems remain aligned with Defence's enterprise data principles, architectural standards (Exploitable by Design), resilience requirements, and operational needs.
The MOD has replaced accreditation with Secure by Design in line with National Cyber Security Centre guidance on assuring systems and services. The MOD's Cyber Security Design Authority provides a reliable, curated source of standards and policies to enable secure design.
Personnel are retrained when new tools, platforms or security standards are introduced, or when capability reviews identify changing skills requirements across Defence's digital and data workforce.
These processes ensure Defence maintains secure, resilient, and modern data capabilities that can effectively support Defence outcomes.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2025 to Question 82467 on Unmanned Air Systems: Testing; whether his Department will support the Civil Aviation Authority in making sure there is a decreased time taken in quarterly statistics on Airspace Change Proposal throughput regarding decision times for uncrewed air system-related Special Use Airspace applications.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with the Civil Aviation Authority to refine the airspace change processes in CAP1616 to improve the speed and efficiency at which both permanent and temporary Special Use Airspace can be established for uncrewed air systems.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October to Question 8246 on Unmanned Air Systems: Delivery Services, whether his Department has assessed the operational impact of Civil Air Publication 1616 timelines on (a) scheduling of uncrewed air system test and (b) evaluation activities.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
To facilitate planned test and evaluation activities the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is able to operate uncrewed air systems in established permanent Special Use Airspace. The MOD utilises the CAP1616 processes to establish temporary and trial Special Use Areas for periods of up to 90 days.
However, for emerging test and evaluation activity out-with the CAP1616 timelines, the MOD may reserve airspace pursuant to Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help support the Wessex Reserve Forces and Cadets Association.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
This Government greatly appreciates all its Reserves and Cadets and is committed to making sure all Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations (RFCAs) receive the support they both need and deserve.
All RFCAs from across the thirteen regionally focused RFCAs, including Wessex, receive the same level of support from the Ministry of Defence (MOD). While the MOD provides policy guidance and the appropriate budget to cover the RFCAs’ operating costs and contractual requirements, it is the single Service commands and the supporting agencies (such as the Defence Infrastructure Organisation) that provide the bulk of support on a day-to-day basis. That support is driven by formalised Service Level Agreements with agreed Key Performance Indicators; these are regularly reviewed to ensure compliance and delivery.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions her Department has had with relevant stakeholders on (a) the Armed Forces Covenant and (b) the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
In developing policy to support putting the Armed Forces Covenant fully into law, we have been, and remain, actively engaged with a range of stakeholders across the UK. These include Devolved Governments and Covenant partners across Government, the Armed Forces community, local authorities, and the service charity and welfare sectors; over 150 organisations have taken part in roundtable discussions and workshops.
This forms part of an extensive research and engagement programme to both identify areas where the Armed Forces community may experience disadvantage and to design the extended Covenant Duty to address this. Active engagement concerning the Employer Recognition Scheme continues similarly.
At recent Mansion House events such as the Lord Mayor’s City Breakfast (21 July 2025) and the Defence and Security Lecture (20 October 2025), the Secretary of State championed the need for more organisations to engage with both the Armed Forces Covenant and the Employer Recognition Scheme, whilst thanking those already involved for their commitment and continued advocacy.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Civil Air Publication 1616 airspace change processes on his Department's ability to (a) test and (b) develop uncrewed air systems.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Airspace within the UK Flight Information Regions is neither specifically military nor civilian. The Joint Air Navigation Services Council is responsible for the management of airspace and Air Traffic Service provision with a Joint and Integrated Approach between the Department for Transport and the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
The practical policy guidance to enact an airspace change is published in CAP1616. The MOD, through the Defence Airspace and Air Traffic Management (DAATM) organisation, is invited to comment on any relevant Airspace Change Proposal. DAATM is a stakeholder in the public consultation launched by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on 25 September 2025 on ways to modernise and streamline the CAP1616 airspace change process and will comment on behalf of the MOD in time for the 18 December 2025 deadline.
The update of CAP 1616 seeks to streamline the processes for modernisation of airspace requirements and the integration of new and innovative types of airspace users. Airspace requirements for military uncrewed air systems testing and development also fall under CAP1616.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will award medals to the crew of the HMS Diamond for their work during the period of November 2023 and July 2024.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Medallic recognition for the operational activity undertaken by HMS Diamond during the period November 2023 and July 2024, is under consideration by the Ministry of Defence in accordance with the existing process.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of dismantling the pressurised water reactors from redundant submarines at (a) Devonport Dockyard and (b) Rosyth Dockyard; and what ongoing collaboration exists between the Defence Nuclear Enterprise and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in relation to this work.
Answered by Maria Eagle
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 65493 from the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Helen Maguire) on 14 July 2025.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-07-07/65493#