The decision was made solely by the Secretary of State without any influence from Peter Mandelson or his firm. The enterprise agreement with Palantir builds on the one signed in 2022 and is essential for maintaining vital defence capabilities. Publishing relevant documents will be done as per transparency guidelines while considering national security.

The Palantir enterprise agreement was a direct award justified under the Procurement Act 2023, covering existing services with robust technical justifications. All procurement procedures were followed, including publishing a transparency notice.

The direct award followed procurement regulations and was a sole-source basis. The UK has a strong security partnership with the US while deepening European alliances. Data used in Palantir software remains sovereign to the UK, controlled by the MOD, and resides within the country.

Acknowledged ongoing investigations and commitment to transparency. Mentioned existing safeguards around AI usage and support for UK firms involved in defence decision making.

Replied that transparency is necessary and important. Stated MOD publishes procurement decisions as per usual practice.

Confirmed commitment to publish necessary documents per last week’s agreement. Mentioned obligations for ex-defence employees working with defence contractors.

Noted that the question about the minutes is being looked at by Downing Street.

Stated that data sovereignty is maintained in the Palantir contract, which resides within the UK.

Emphasised that contracts are reviewed to ensure delivery of agreed services, aiming to support more British AI companies in defence.

Confirmed continued close relationship with US for national interest, ensuring agreements are in UK’s best interests.

Directed question towards Downing Street for clarification.

Confirmed adherence to Procurement Act, committed to compliance with the agreement on data/document publication.

As I have been clear to the House in a number of answers, we will continue to have a security and defence relationship with the United States, and it is in our national interests to do so. We are a party that takes defence and security very seriously, which is something that I hope the hon. Gentleman’s party would do more of, although I have much respect for him. I will continue to ensure that we get the best services for our armed forces as we move to warfighting readiness. I have answered the question about minutes, and it will be for Downing Street to publish that in due course.

My hon. Friend is absolutely right that we should look at security, data security and the opportunities here. In the strategic defence review, we set out our direction of travel in defence, and investing in new technologies, including artificial intelligence, is key to securing our national security. I want to see the best-in-class products used by our armed forces, and I also want to see more British small and medium-sized enterprises, in particular, being able to access this area. We have set up the Defence Office for Small Business Growth, and we are looking in particular at how we can support small defence AI companies to onboard their software in a whole range of defence utilities. We will continue to do so as we look to spend more of our rising defence budget with UK SMEs.

I am afraid that looking for deliverables ahead of a state visit is pretty standard practice, and it is something that the right hon. Gentleman’s Government looked at just as much as we do. We will continue to have conversations with our ambassadors in all circumstances, as he would expect. The right hon. Gentleman raises questions that should be answered by the publication of the information. We as a Government have committed to publish the relevant information that the House asked for last week, and we stand by that.

I entirely appreciate my hon. Friend’s position. Palantir provides services to the United Kingdom that keep our troops safe and enhance our national security. We have a range of contracts with US firms in procuring not only services but platforms. All those contracts go through the necessary rigour and assessment before they are signed. Some are subject to competitive tender and some, for other reasons, are subject to direct award. We will continue to work with our US partners.

The hon. Lady’s position would be stronger if the Greens were not so soft on defence. We will continue to invest in our national security, and we will invest in the contracts that keep our troops and our country safe. That will involve investing not only in UK firms, but in international partners at the same time. I have been clear at the Dispatch Box that we will comply fully with the agreement made on the Humble Address last week, and we will publish information in the right way in due course. I hope that will be able to provide more of the answers that the hon. Lady is looking for.

The right hon. Gentleman will have seen the photographs that appeared on No. 10’s Twitter feed, to which I referred in response to the earlier question about the publication of information. He will also recall—perhaps from his time as a Defence Minister—that in 2021 the then Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, also met Alex Karp.

I appreciate the right hon. Gentleman’s long-standing position on a number of the items he asks about. I have been clear to the House today that we will continue to work with our US friends—they are our closest defence and security partner. Where appropriate, we will look at working with US technology firms that can provide best-in-class products that deliver increased defence for our armed forces and our nation. We will continue to do that, as well as investing in UK firms.

The right hon. Gentleman is right; it is important that people can have confidence in the system, including the procurement system. As I have set out to the House, the decision to extend the contract with Palantir was originally signed in 2022 by the previous Government, of which I think he was a part at the time. That decision was made by the Secretary of State, and by the Secretary of State alone. I do want to see more British AI companies working in defence—something we have been very clear about. Indeed, I think even the last Government set out an ambition to do more in that space. We have stepped up to make sure we can grow our own indigenous AI industry, with its software and services able to be onboarded into a more AI-friendly defence environment, because AI provides a decision advantage for our forces that is necessary to keep our country safe. However, I take very seriously the points that the right hon. Gentleman has made, and when we publish the information that we have committed to publish, that will hopefully answer some of his questions.

The decision was made by the Secretary of State alone, and the extension of the contract delivers a benefit to the UK, securing £1.5 billion investment and supporting SMEs and armed forces.

The role of defence is to disrupt adversaries for national security. This includes capabilities that can disrupt, deter and defeat our adversaries if necessary.

The Minister does not know details of Home Office policing contracts but suggests contacting colleagues in the Home Office for more information.

The Government have already set out changes for transparency in political donations; will look into specific donation details if provided.

The decision to extend the 2022 contract was made by the Secretary of State alone. We are procuring AI for defence to counter adversaries' use of it.