Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June to Question 4321 on Palantir: Software, whether the National Cyber Security Centre expert guidance on the awarding of software contracts to Palantir included (a) any objections on the basis of increased risk or (b) mitigations to reduce risk.

The Government takes national security extremely seriously. It is long-standing policy that the Government does not disclose the specifics of its security arrangements, including in relation to individual suppliers or the detail of security advice provided in individual procurement processes.

Under the Procurement Act 2023, contracting authorities must undertake due diligence and may exclude suppliers on national security grounds where the relevant legal tests are met.