§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what510W discussions he has had with the Defence Secretary regarding the role of provincial reconstruction teams for Afghanistan. [123661]
§ Hilary BennThe concept of Provincial Reconstruction Teams was agreed at ministerial level earlier this year, with the Ministry of Defence being asked to take overall responsibility for delivering the agreed objectives of the PRT. These objectives were set out in the statement to Parliament made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 8 May 2003;Official Report, column 38WS.