§ Tom CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries which now have troops stationed in Afghanistan; and how many troops are deployed in each case. [175150]
§ Mr. IngramThere are 32 nations contributing to the ISAF Multinational Brigade which operates within Kabul (although temporary deployments outside the city are authorised) and totals approximately 5,900 personnel. The nations are, Albania Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, The United Kingdom, The United States and Afghanistan. The UK commitment is approximately 360. ISAF also includes a German led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Konduz. The exact numbers deployed for each of these nations are a matter for the nations concerned.
In addition to ISAF, the US led coalition operates across Afghanistan and includes the UK led PRT at Mazar-e-Sharif numbering approximately 100 personnel and a New Zealand PRT at Barman. While its area of operations covers the whole of Afghanistan it is focused mainly on the South. We do not hold details of all contributors to the coalition or the exact numbers available to the coalition forces commander. That information is a matter for the individual coalition contributors.
§ Mr. SoamesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what recent representations he has received from the NATO Secretary-General regarding the security situation in Afghanistan; [176360]
(2) what recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts regarding the security situation in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [176362]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 27 May 2004]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence routinely discusses the security situation in Afghanistan with the NATO Secretary General and Alliance Defence Ministers.
§ Mr. SoamesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the results of the force generation conference held in Brussels in March with the aim of manning and equipping the First Stage of the expansion of NATO's role in Afghanistan. [176363]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 27 May 2004]: A conference to generate forces to proceed with the further expansion of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was held at the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe, in Mons on 11 March 2004. The conference was broadly successful and the United Kingdom, in conjunction with Denmark, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Norway, Romania and Sweden, has pledged sufficient forces to implement the first phase of the ISAF's expansion. Some shortfalls remain, however, that predominantly relate to aspects of the 204W ISAF's continuing mission in Kabul: we are working actively with our partners in NATO and the ISAF to resolve these issues.
§ Mr. SoamesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries contributing to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan; and what the current contribution of each country is. [176364]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 27 May 2004]: There are 32 nations contributing to the International Security Assistance Force Kabul Multinational Brigade which totals approximately 5,900 personnel. The nations are, Albania Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, The United Kingdom, The United States and Afghanistan. The UK commitment is approximately 360. ISAF also includes a German led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Konduz. The exact numbers deployed for each of these nations are a matter for the nations concerned.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money his Department spent in Afghanistan in each of the last three years; and if he will provide a breakdown of that expenditure by main heading. [176598]
§ Mr. IngramThe Ministry of Defence identifies the costs of operations in terms of the net additional costs it has incurred. The costs that the Department would have incurred regardless of the operation taking place, such as wages and salaries, are not included. Savings on activities that have not occurred because of the operation—training exercises for example are taken into account in arriving at the net figures.
The net additional cost of operations in Afghanistan from 2001–03 by main heading are as follows:
£ million 2001–02 outturn Operating costs 188 Capital expenditure 34 Total 222 2002–03 outturn Operating costs 236 Capital expenditure 75 Total 311 It is still too early to say what the final outturn for 2003–04 will be but a total of £55 million was voted at spring supplementary estimates for Afghanistan comprising £40 million for operating costs and £15 million for Capital Expenditure. Final audited figures will be published in the Department's Annual Report and Accounts in September.