§ Ann ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what(a) direct and (b) indirect involvement the Government have had in the supply of Russian weapons to (i) the Northern Alliance, (ii) its component factions and (iii) other non-state actors operating in and around Afghanistan since 11 September. [17951]
§ Mr. BradshawThe Government are involved in military operations in self-defence against international terrorists within Afghanistan. Information and plans about these operations are extremely sensitive, and it would not be in the public interest for them to be disclosed. In my opinion, exemptions 1(a) and (b) (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information apply here.