§ Lord Astor of Heverasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are continuing to make representations to NATO allies such as Italy and Spain on the need for all NATO members to deliver their agreed contributions of personnel and material to allied forces in Afghanistan; and what response they are receiving to such representations. [HL175]
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)All the agreed contributions of personnel and material pledged by NATO members to support Stage 1 of110WA NATO's planned expansion of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission (to the north) have been delivered. Additional pledges covering the presidential elections in October were also fulfilled, with Spain and Italy each providing a battalion to assist with security during the election period. Other nations also provided additional resources.
NATO repeated its commitment to Afghanistan at the informal meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Brussels on 8–9 December. NATO has made progress implementing Stage 2 expansion of ISAF to western Afghanistan and is now aiming to accelerate this in order to provide support for the parliamentary elections scheduled for Spring 2005. Italy announced at the meeting that it will run the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Herat and also the related foward support base, in co-operation with the United States and other nations. But NATO still requires further resources to complete Stage 2. We will continue our efforts to support NATO in pressing potential contributors to commit part or whole PRTs or wider force enablers.