'Millions' of pounds saved by replacing Palantir tech in refugee system
3 hours ago
- #Public Procurement
- #Refugee Support
- #Government Technology
- Millions of pounds have been saved by replacing the Palantir IT system in the Homes for Ukraine scheme with an in-house system developed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG).
- The Palantir system was initially provided for free for six months, but later contracts cost £4.5 million and £5.5 million, raising concerns about procurement practices and reliance on external tech suppliers.
- The new in-house system is described as more flexible, cheaper, and better, saving MHCLG millions annually in running costs and offering greater control over data and code.
- This move is seen as a step towards 'sovereign technology,' reducing dependence on large US tech firms like Palantir, though external specialists are acknowledged for their rapid deployment capabilities in urgent situations.