Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he had with Peter Mandelson, whilst he was the UK Ambassador to the United States, on Palantir, prior to the awarding of the contract with the Ministry of Defence.

I refer the hon. Member to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12 February, and the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, which set out an update on the Government's process. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.