Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department plans to (a) review the funding strategy for de-mining in Afghanistan through the UN and (b) commit to holding the United Nations Mine Action Service to the same level of scrutiny as de-mining non-governmental organisations.

The current Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Afghanistan runs until the end of March 2021. We are currently reviewing our approach to Mine Action in Afghanistan beyond March 2021.

We remain committed to holding all Mine Action partners to the same level of scrutiny, in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world. UN partners are asked to provide frequent, detailed evidence that demonstrates progress and value for money for the UK taxpayer. UNMAS meets regularly with DFID officials to review results and discuss actions to mitigate programme risks.