Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the withdrawal of UK troops from Mali will be completed.

Following the announcement in the House, the order to begin the withdrawal of the Long Range Reconnaissance Group contribution to the MINUSMA mission has been activated. Coordinating with international partners for our departure is underway and will continue over the coming weeks. I will not provide an exact timeline for withdrawal of UK troops, but I can say that we will not generate a sixth rotation of the UK Task Group to the MINUSMA mission and therefore the Scots Dragoon Guards will be the last rotation.