The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Philip Hammond)
I have today laid before the House a Ministry of Defence departmental minute describing a gifting package which the UK intends to make to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Towards the end of 2014, UK forces will redeploy from southern Helmand, returning Camp Bastion to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA). The built infrastructure will largely remain in place, together with some equipment that will be required by UK forces to the end and will not, therefore, be able to be sold or redeployed.
This gifting is expected to underpin the transition by supporting the further development of a capable, credible and confident Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), within a sustainable security footing. The combined effect of training, mentoring and sustainment through gifting will help secure the positive support of the ANSF to UK and US forces and increase the capability of the ANSF. This is seen as being a key factor in enabling a low-risk extraction of the UK and US forces from Camp Bastion.
There has been very little UK property gifted to GIRoA, other than in cases where the handover of infrastructure at outlying locations has offset the cost to the UK of remediation. Our priority has been to seek best value for the taxpayer through redeployment and by the release of surplus property for sale. This policy will remain during our extraction from Bastion and, where the opportunity arises to redeploy valuable equipment for future contingency operations rather than gifting, this will be undertaken.
The departmental minute, which I have today laid before the House, describes the gifting package to the GIRoA.
Subject to completion of the departmental minute process, gifting is expected to be undertaken by the end of 2014.