§ Jeremy CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what his latest estimate is of(a) the deployment of United Kingdom military personnel in the Afghan theatre of war and (b) the total value of ordnance dropped in the conflict; [23639]
(2) what the total number of United Kingdom military personnel serving in Afghanistan is; and under whose command they operate. [23644]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 18 December 2001]: There are approximately 3,800 involved in support of Operation Veritas, the UK element of Operating Enduring Freedom. This figure excludes the number of UK personnel operating within Afghanistan, and I am withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
British troops operating in Afghanistan are under the overall command of the UK Chief of Joint Operations, and are available for specific tasks to the US Commander-in-Chief, Central Command.
We have not estimated the value of ordnance dropped in the operation.