Lord Coaker confirms Afghan payment records

A letter dated 4 November 2024 from Lord Coaker, Minister for the House of Lords, to Lord Browne of Ladyton, addressed concerns raised over the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and evidence of payment records for Afghan personnel.

This correspondence follows questions initially raised by Lord Browne during an Oral Statement on 15 October 2024.

In the letter, Lord Coaker acknowledged Lord Browne’s ongoing advocacy for Afghan nationals who supported UK operations and confirms that officials have now located “evidence of payments from the UK Government to members of Afghan specialist units that, for some individuals, demonstrates a direct employment relationship.” This discovery goes beyond earlier information about “top-up payments” and reimbursements for operational expenses, which had not, by themselves, confirmed direct employment.

Lord Coaker highlighted the challenges of record-keeping across a multinational operation spanning two decades, noting that more time is required to access and contextualise all relevant records. He describes the 15 October update as provisional, stating that further analysis is needed to complete the record review.

The letter also underscores the government’s commitment to transparency in the review process, as Lord Coaker states, “we are determined to retrieve information from all relevant sources and will provide an update to the House on our progress at the earliest opportunity.” He encourages Lord Browne to share any additional information that might assist with the review and assures him that efforts will be made to improve future information flows to prevent similar issues.

Lord Coaker concluded by addressing past statements made to the House, clarifying that there is “no evidence suggesting a conscious effort by the previous government to mislead the House or the public on this matter.” He affirmed that past ministers acted in good faith based on the available information.

Finally, he reassured Lord Browne of the current government’s commitment to the ARAP scheme, vowing to “ensure eligible former Triples receive the sanctuary they deserve in recognition of their work for, and alongside, the UK Armed Forces.”

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