54th Report - Afghanistan Response Route
Select Committee
Public Accounts Committee
HC 1391
14 November 2025
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Fifty-fourth report from Session 2024-26 · published 19 Jan 2026
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
4
Conclusion
Deferred
Establish agreement on information sharing for scrutiny and issue new super-injunction guidance
Conclusion
The Department failed in its responsibility to enable effective scrutiny by the Public Accounts Committee and the National Audit Office. Ministers decided who should be informed about, or ‘read in to’, the super- injunction, balancing the need to know against …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response is irrelevant, discussing BBC Studios' content production and intellectual property targets, and completely fails to address the recommendation regarding information sharing with the Committee and Comptroller and Auditor General on super-injunctions or new guidance from the Treasury.
HM Treasury
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6
Conclusion
Deferred
Treasury clarified reporting rules and guidance for spending following Afghan data breach.
Conclusion
We received a written submission from the Treasury Officer of Accounts at HM Treasury (the Treasury). This letter, which is published on the Committee’s inquiry page, set out:10 • the Treasury’s understanding of the reporting rules and expectations related to …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response is irrelevant, discussing the BBC's 'Across the UK programme' and content commissioning, and completely fails to address the conclusion regarding the Treasury Officer of Accounts' submission on reporting rules and guidance for the Public Accounts Committee and NAO.
HM Treasury
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7
Conclusion
Deferred
Department estimates resettling up to 27,278 individuals due to Afghan data breach.
Conclusion
At the end of July 2025, the Department estimated that it would resettle 7,355 people through the ARR scheme as a direct result of the February 2022 data breach. This included 1,531 ‘principals’ (initial applicants) 6 C&AG’s Report, para 8 …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation but then provides a response entirely focused on measures to tackle illegal meat imports, including stepping up communications, developing a strategic approach with Dover Port Health Authority, and considering increased funding for them.
HM Treasury
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8
Conclusion
Deferred
Identifying and contacting all high-risk individuals after data breach remains difficult.
Conclusion
We asked the Department how it obtained assurance that those put at the highest risk from the data breach were identified and contacted.14 The Department told us that it undertook a risk assessment almost immediately after the breach was discovered, …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation but then details its work on animal vaccine availability and supply, including plans for a five-year multi-stakeholder Action Plan in late 2026, and efforts related to Bluetongue 3, avian influenza, and Bovine TB vaccines.
HM Treasury
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9
Conclusion
Deferred
Full resettlement of eligible individuals accepting offers will take several years.
Conclusion
We asked the Department how confident it was that it would be able to resettle all those individuals, and how long it would take. The Department said that the estimate of 7,355 was a “maximalist projection” because it expected that …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation but then provides details about ongoing work related to a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU, strengthening animal disease resilience, and integrating various biosecurity and veterinary strategies.
HM Treasury
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