Overview
- MPs on the Public Accounts Committee say the MoD used inappropriate systems such as Excel and SharePoint, failed to learn from earlier incidents, and they lack confidence the department can prevent a repeat.
- The breach stemmed from a February 2022 spreadsheet emailed outside government, was only detected after fragments surfaced online in August 2023, and prompted a super-injunction that blocked reporting until July 2025.
- The PAC and NAO say the MoD has not fully accounted for costs tied to the secret relocation response, with the department estimating £850m for the Afghanistan Response Route as auditors question the completeness of that figure.
- The PAC report cites ministerial approval in October 2024 of a £7bn package linked to moving tens of thousands of people, while separate MoD data indicates around 27,278 could be eligible and only 3,383 arrivals are recorded under the leak-impacted route.
- The MoD has apologised and points to a new secure casework system for Afghan resettlement, and the committee is demanding evidence the controls now in place will prevent further breaches and regular updates on resettlement progress.