[holding answer 19 March 2007]: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) engages with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DfID) on operational issues through a number of tri-departmental strategic and working groups from ministerial level downwards. Desk level officials maintain close and regular contacts across departments. Policy and Commitments staff in MOD head office lead on cross-governmental engagement. Permanent joint headquarters (PJHQ) staff are consulted and contribute on operational and tactical matters to provide an integrated HMG response.
At the tactical level, as part of the UK’s comprehensive approach to our operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans, personnel in theatre engage regularly with their deployed counterparts in the FCO and DfID. PJHQ staff monitor and advise as necessary on these interactions.
The MOD has also developed a formal agreement with DfID on the provision of military assistance to humanitarian relief operations and is in the process of agreeing service levels with the FCO on the provision of military assistance to evacuation operations.