To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he held with the Afghan authorities about reconstruction on his recent visit to Afghanistan. [123685]

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed reconstruction in the context of security sector reform with President Karzai and Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah during his recent visit. Without improved security, wider reconstruction efforts will not be possible. The UK is contributing £16.6 million this year to security sector reform; and has spent more than £170 million on development assistance to Afghanistan since September 2001.