To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the Atlas consortium was awarded a DII add-on contract in December 2006; what progress has been made on the original contract; and if he will make a statement. (176097)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave on 30 January 2007, Official Report, column 154-55W to my hon. Friend the Member for North-West Leicestershire (David Taylor).

Delivery of some elements of the Defence Information Infrastructure (Future) (DII(F)) increment 1 are up to a year behind the original plan; however increments 1 and 2a have been combined to provide a more efficient and effective overall delivery plan. Over 22,000 DII(F) terminals have been delivered, supporting over 62,000 users.