To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been paid to private military security companies in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan to protect (i) Foreign and Commonwealth Office personnel, (ii) other British Government personnel and (iii) British Government civilian and military infrastructure; and if he will make a statement. (155060)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: The amounts paid to private security companies in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Government personnel and Government civilian and military infrastructure are provided as follows.

These payments relate to contracts put in place by the FCO and certain other Government Departments in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2003 and 2008.