Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons a £54 million contract for the Provision of Worldwide Linguistic Services in Support of UK MoD Operations – 700032337 was closed on 16 August 2021; and whether a supplier has been found.

The reason the contract was closed on 16 August 2021 was due to the drawdown and subsequent ending of Operation TORAL, which amounted to around 67% of the total contract value of £54 million. Following legal advice, the contract was closed and a new contract for the revised requirement is being procured under the Crown Commercial Services Language Services Framework (RM6141) Lot 5m.