Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what Memorandum of Understanding was reached between USAID and her Department on the transfer of the Bost Agri Park and Bost Airfield from USAID control to her Department's control in 2009.

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.