§ Lord Vivianasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which Ministers, Members of the Opposition and senior officers have visited Afghanistan; when these visits took place; and how long was each visit. [HL3094]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos)The following Ministers, Members of the Opposition and senior officers have visited Afghanistan since' the security situation has allowed such visits:
Ministers
The Prime Minister, 7 to 8 January 2002;
The Secretary of State for Defence, 5 February 2002;
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, 15 February 2002;
Rt Hon Adam Ingram, Minister for Armed Forces, 1 to 4 April 2002.
Members of the Opposition
Rt Hon Menzies Campbell MP, 15 February 2002.
Senior Officers
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Mr Robert Cooper, UK Special Representative for Afghanistan, 21 to 22 December 2001 and 15 February 2002;
Mr Graham Fry, Deputy Under-Secretary of State (Wider-World), 15 February 2002;
Mr David Reddaway, UK Special Representative on Afghanistan, 26 to 31 March 2002;
Ms Jan Thompson, Head of Afghanistan Unit, 26 to 31 March 2002.
Department for International Development (DfID)
Dr Mukesh Kapila, Head of Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department, 19 to 22 November 2001 and 15 January to 17 January 2002. 8 to 12 March 2002, 18 to 21 March 2002 and 9 to 11 April 2002.
Ministry of Defence
Admiral Sir Michael Boyce, Chief of Defence Staff, 27 to 28 January 2002;
Lieutenant-General John Reith, Chief of Joint Operations, 27 to 28 January 2002 and 9 to 10 April 2002;
Mr Desmond Bowen, Director General, Operational Policy, 5 February 2002;
General Sir Mike Jackson, Commander in Chief, Land Command, 7 to 8 February 2002;
98WAAir Marshall Joe French, Chief of Defence Intelligence, 9 to 10 April 2002.