Afghanistan (Hansard, 29 May 2002)

§ Baroness Rawlings
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they can provide financial details of the international indebtedness of the Afghan government. [HL2648]

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos)
Since Afghanistan has effectively operated outside of the international financial system for a number of years, there are no consolidated and reliable records of Afghanistan's indebtedness. More accurate figures are currently being calculated and will be available in the future.

§ Baroness Rawlings
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will provide details of how the £500 million of European Union aid is being distributed in Afghanistan; how much has already been distributed; and to whom. [HL2649]

§ Baroness Amos
At the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction in Afghanistan in January 2002, European Union (EU) countries pledged a total of £1.5 billion for assistance over the period 2002 to 2006. This combines firm pledges for 2002 of over £250 million and indicative amounts for the period beyond. The European Commission (EC) has pledged over £125 million for recovery and reconstruction in 2002 and similar annual contributions for the next four years.
According to data collated by the EC, EU member states have so far disbursed over £64 million of assistance to Afghanistan in 2002. This is being channelled through UN agencies, the Red Cross, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and, in the case of the UK, the World Bank Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund. The EC has so far approved about £60 million worth of assistance for emergency relief, rapid support for the Afghan Interim Administration and initial recovery programmes.

§ Lord Hardy of Wath
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which Ministers, Members of the Opposition and senior officers visited Afghanistan; when these visits took place; and how long was each visit. [HL4566]

§ Baroness Amos
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.
148WA
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;
Hon. Bernard Jenkin MP, 1 to 4 April 2002;
Patrick Mercer MP, 1 to 4 April 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 Michael Ryder, Head of Drugs and International Crime Department, 3 to 9 March 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, 15 to 17 January 2002, 8 to 12 March 2002 and 18 to 21 March 2002.
Ministry of Defence
Admiral Sir Michael Boyce, Chief of Defence Staff, 27 to 28 January 2002;
Lt General John Reith, Chief of Joint Operations, 27 to 28 January 2002 and 9 to 10 April;
Mr Desmond Bowen, Director General Operational Policy, 5 February 2002;
General Sir Mike Jackson, Commander in Chief, Land Command, 7 to 8 February 2002;
Air Marshall Joe French, Chief of Defence Intelligence, 9 to 10 April 2002.