To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2006, Official Report, column 1716W, on Afghanistan, how many (a) ministerial and (b) official-level meetings on Afghanistan have taken place between the three Departments since January. (81738)

There are regular ministerial and official meetings on Afghanistan. Since January, seven ministerial meetings and 16 senior official meetings specifically on Afghanistan have been held. At the official level there is daily contact between Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for International Development and Ministry of Defence personnel.