Afghanistan (Hansard, 15 September 2004)

§ Sue Doughty
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the level of voter registration necessary for the October 2004 and April 2005 elections in Afghanistan to ensure a credible democratic mandate for the resulting President and Government; what progress towards that level has to date been made; and if he will make a statement. [188073]

§ Mr. Rammell
The UN/Afghan official Joint Elections Management Body reports that over 10.5 million voters have been registered in Afghanistan; voter registration is now closed. Although there is no current detailed census information for Afghanistan, this figure clearly represents the overwhelming majority of those eligible to vote. This is a significant achievement and a clear demonstration of the desire of the Afghan people to participate in the democratic process.

§ Mr. Bercow
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Afghan Transitional Administration on the timing of elections in Afghanistan. [188355]

§ Mr. Rammell
We regularly discuss arrangements for the elections with members of the Afghan Transitional Administration (ATA) at official level. My hon. Friend the then Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs (Mike O'Brien) last discussed this subject with President Karzai and other members of the ATA in Berlin on 1 April.

§ Mr. Bercow
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department is providing to the Afghan Transitional Administration on voter registration. [188359]

§ Mr. Rammell
Voter registration in Afghanistan has been conducted by the joint Afghan/UN Joint Elections Management Body. The UK was not asked to provide advice on voter registration and has not done so. We have contributed £11 million to the UN voter registration programme.

§ Mr. Bercow
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will break down funding that has been pledged by(a) the United Kingdom and (b) other United Nations member states 1610W for the electoral process in Afghanistan by main category; and how much of that funding has been delivered. [188360]

§ Mr. Rammell
The UK has contributed approximately £11.8 million to assist with voter registration for the elections in Afghanistan, as well as approximately £3.125 million for the holding of the presidential elections themselves. These funds have been delivered.
Detailed and up-to-date information on the elections, including figures for funding pledged and received by all the relevant donor countries is available on the website of the Afghan/UN Joint Elections Management Body: http://www.elections -afghanistan.org.af.