Former Afghan Special Forces: Deportation Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Former Afghan Special Forces: Deportation

Lord Browne of Ladyton Excerpts
Tuesday 12th December 2023

(10 months, 4 weeks ago)

Lords Chamber
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Earl of Minto Portrait The Earl of Minto (Con)
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My Lords, the noble Baroness makes a very good point. The accuracy of the data held on large numbers of people requires double- checking and checking again. At the heart of approval under ARAP is the accuracy of exactly what these individuals did.

Lord Browne of Ladyton Portrait Lord Browne of Ladyton (Lab)
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My Lords, in responding to a question about specific individuals in the other place, the Armed Forces Minister told the House that His Majesty’s Government

“do not have the employment records of the Afghan special forces”.—[Official Report, Commons, 11/12/23; col. 631.]

Today, I was informed by a very reliable source that, until at least August 2021, our embassy in Kabul held nominal records for members of CF333 and ATF444, for the purposes of their “top-up pay”. They were in our employment and, until at least August 2021, His Majesty’s Government held their employment records. Surely, they still exist?

Earl of Minto Portrait The Earl of Minto (Con)
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My Lords, I am not certain that the word “pay” is accurate. I think expense recompense is more appropriate, which is different: you gift something and get something back. If the records are there, we will follow them down. I was not aware that they were held.