Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Major Projects 2020-21 Portfolio Data 2021, published on 15 July 2021, if he will publish the reasons for which projects in that report had data exempted under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act by project.

It is usual procurement practice to withhold commercially sensitive data/information from publication for a variety of reasons, such as, to protect the integrity of ongoing contractual negotiations and tendering activities which will vary in stages from programme to programme.