Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the National Security Advisor was empowered to direct FCDO officials in determining evacuation priorities during the pull-out from Afghanistan in August 2021 (b) in respect of Nowzad and (b) more widely.

Following an NSC decision on 15 April 2021, the coordination of the Afghanistan evacuation was led by a small group of officials from relevant departments across Government, chaired by the relevant Deputy National Security Advisor, reporting to the National Security Advisor. The role of this group was to ensure the evacuation proceeded in line with policies and priorities agreed by the NSC. Staff for Nowzad were processed in line with this policy.