Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2014, Official Report, column 414W, on Afghanistan and with reference to the Answer of 5 September 2013, Official Report, column 461W, on Afghanistan, for what reasons she considers the publication of official agreements signed by her Department to be covered by her Department's policy on the publication of internal discussions.

The Bost industrial business park proposal was originally approved by officials in 2009 at a time when Ministers did not approve spend under £40m. In 2012 it became clear that the project could no longer be completed within the original timeframe and in good order. To avoid wasting taxpayers’ money I decided that UK funding for the project should be cancelled. The completed park designs have been handed over to the Afghan authorities to enable them to pursue the project over a revised time frame. DFID’s work on Bost Airfield was completed in November 2013.

There was no Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2009.