Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Withdrawal from Afghanistan: Inquiry

Monday 10 January 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Stuart McDonald asked about commissioning an inquiry into the UK's withdrawal from Afghanistan.
  • The Foreign Affairs Committee is already conducting an inquiry and the Secretary of State for Defence will provide evidence soon.
  • Stuart McDonald emphasized the need for a full independent inquiry due to the severe outcomes in Afghanistan.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stuart McDonald SNP
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

No specific background context provided, but the question is prompted by concerns over the UK's withdrawal operations under Operation Pitting.

Question

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of commissioning an inquiry into the UK's withdrawal of personnel from Afghanistan under Operation Pitting.

Answer from James Heappey

The Foreign Affairs Committee has one up and running and the Secretary of State for Defence will give evidence in two weeks' time.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commissioning a new independent inquiry specifically requested by the MP was not addressed directly, instead mentioning an existing committee review.

How: Mentioning An Existing Committee

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Q2 Stuart McDonald SNP
Ukraine Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP seeks to emphasize the severity and significance of evidence regarding the UK's withdrawal from Afghanistan, urging for a comprehensive independent inquiry.

Question

I have no doubt that that Committee is doing a very find job indeed, but surely the damning evidence that it has received makes a full independent inquiry all the more important, not less so. Tens of thousands dead, millions facing humanitarian disaster, democracy and human rights in tatters, and many of billions of pounds spent—if that does not merit a full, comprehensive independent inquiry, what on earth does?

Answer from James Heappey

I think that the whole House can agree that the service personnel involved in Operation Pitting did an amazing job. I fear that the hon. Gentleman's wider question might be better addressed to Foreign Office questions.

Not addressed: The MP's request for a full independent inquiry was not directly addressed, instead focusing on praising service personnel and suggesting another forum (Foreign Office) for addressing broader issues.

How: Changing The Subject, Suggesting Another Forum

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