The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr William Hague)
As part of the Government’s approach to counter-terrorism (CT), the UK assists key partner nations to improve their CT capabilities. By helping countries to undertake CT activities locally, it targets the problem at source and reduces the risk of a terrorist attack against the UK. The UK is committed to developing counter-terrorism capability in the horn of Africa.
The proposal in this case is to gift security equipment and vehicles to, the Somaliland Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air Transport for use at Berbera and Hargeisa airports; and the Somaliland Department of Immigration for use at land/sea/air border crossings to ensure that persons entering/leaving Somaliland pass through robust security and immigration checks, allowing Somaliland authorities to identify and disrupt threats to aviation and border security.
The equipment and vehicles will be gifted alongside a training and mentoring package (which is not part of the gift but also provided by the UK), costing £457,263. The training aims to ensure airport security staff can operate X-ray, explosive trace detection (ETD) and CCTV equipment; as well as to promote the benefits of a sustainable and compliant civil aviation sector through close mentoring of senior officials and professional development of operational staff.
The total cost of the proposed UK gift is £699,465 and will be met by the Government’s counter-terrorism programme.
Explosive trace detection devices are subject to export controls. FCO and MOD officials have assessed the equipment against the EU consolidated criteria and have no objections to the release of these items. This assistance has been scrutinised and approved by a senior, cross-Whitehall counter-terrorism programme approval board, which has confirmed that it fits with Her Majesty’s Government (HMG’s) objectives.
The gifting minute was laid before the House of Commons yesterday. If, during the period of 14 parliamentary sitting days beginning on the date on which the minute was laid, a Member signifies an objection by giving notice of a parliamentary question or of a motion in relation to the minute, or by otherwise raising the matter in the House, final approval of the gift will be withheld pending an examination of the objection.