Written questions by Trickett.

Whether he has contingency plans in the event that his Department’s contracts with Palantir are terminated.

The Ministry of Defence manages its commercial relationships in line with established government procurement and contract management frameworks, with appropriate governance, assurance and risk management arrangements in place throughout the life of a contract. I hope the hon. Gentleman will under that the Department does not comment on hypothetical scenarios relating to the termination of individual contracts.

For what reason the contract with Palantir was awarded without competition in December 2025.

The Palantir Enterprise Agreement was a Direct Award justified under the Procurement Act 2023. The Enterprise Agreement covers existing services and where there is a robust technical justification for using Palantir products and services for Defence outcomes. The decision to proceed by way of a Direct Award under Schedule 5, Paragraph 7 reflected the need to maintain continuity of critical Defence capabilities. All procurement procedures were followed with the publication of a Transparency Notice.

Whether the Palantir system for managing his Department's data could be unilaterally shut down by Palantir without the Government’s consent.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has put in place extensive data security and protection measures to ensure that UK Defence information is appropriately managed. All UK Defence Data used and developed within Palantir software remains sovereign and under the full control of the MOD. Clear contractual controls are in place to ensure this, including controls over the underlying data systems on which Palantir software operates. These contractual arrangements mean that Palantir cannot unilaterally shut down the MOD’s use of the system, or alter MOD access to its data, without the explicit consent of the MOD. Any such change would require our agreement.

What steps he is taking to ensure that data analysed by Palantir is protected from access by foreign governments.

All data used and developed in Palantir's software deployed across the Ministry of Defence (MOD) will remain under the ownership of the MOD.  The MOD has put in place extensive data security and protection measures to ensure UK Defence information is appropriately managed. UK Defence Data used and developed in Palantir's software remains sovereign and under the control of the MOD.  We have clear contractual controls in place to ensure this as well as control over the data system that Palantir software sits upon. Any change from this cannot be conducted without consent from the MOD. All data will remain sovereign, freely available across the MOD to be exploited wherever it is needed, including the broader supply chain, and technical ecosystem.

Whether there are British armed forces personnel in active service in Venezuela.

There are no British Armed Forces personnel in active service in Venezuela.

How many staff their Department has seconded from Hakluyt since July 2024.

No staff have been seconded from Hakluyt into the Ministry of Defence or its Executive Agencies since July 2024.

How many of their Department's officials have been seconded from (a) the Institute for Economic Affairs, (b) the Policy Exchange, (c) the Adam Smith Institute and (d) Labour Together since July 2024.

No staff have been seconded from the Institute for Economic Affairs, the Policy Exchange, the Adam Smith Institute nor Labour Together into the Ministry of Defence or its Executive Agencies since July 2024.

How many staff his Department has seconded from Palantir since July 2024.

No staff have been seconded from Palantir into the Ministry of Defence or its Executive Agencies since July 2024.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the ability of Defence Fire and Rescue Service workers aged over 60 to carry out their role.

All Defence Fire and Rescue Service personnel aged over 60 are required to be in date with their operation fitness assessment which is undertaken annually. These fitness standards are in line with The UK National Fire Fighter Fitness Standards.

Whether he plans to equalise the pension age of Defence Fire and Rescue Service workers with their counterparts in (a) Local Authority and (b) Civil Aviation Authority Fire Services.

The Defence Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) have no plans to equalise the pension age of its personnel with their counterparts in Local Authority and Civil Aviation Authority Fire Services.

What steps he is taking to ensure (a) occupational health support and (b) other the health and wellbeing measures for Defence Fire and Rescue Services are similar to those provided to (i) Local Authority and (ii) Civil Aviation Authority Fire Services.

Defence Fire and Rescue Service personnel are provided with occupational health support through the Defence Business Services Occupational Health contract. Additional support can be accessed through the Ministry of Defence People Portal and the Civil Service Benevolent Fund. Occupational health support offers vary in Local Authority Fire and Rescue Service areas and the Civil Aviation Authority Fire Service.

If he will provide Defence Fire and Rescue Service workers an early pension get out clause at 57.

As Civil Servants, the Defence Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) workforce pension scheme is administered by My Civil Service Pension and in accordance with MOD policy. Each occupation group can only apply the rules, in which Trade Unions have been consulted, associated with their particular pension scheme. Members of the DFRS continue to be subject to a Normal Retirement Age (NRA) of 65 but they may request approval to continue working beyond the NRA.