To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has paid local transporters in (a) Afghanistan and (b) Pakistan to transport British goods for resupply in each year since 2002. (162568)

The cost of onward movement from Kandahar to other UK bases in Afghanistan between April 2006 and March 2007 was around £3.2 million. Data prior to April 2006 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The cost of transport through Pakistan is subsumed in the costs associated with the contract for the transport of supplies from the UK to the UK logistics hub in Afghanistan. A breakdown cannot be provided of the amount paid to ‘local’ transporters as the MOD does not have visibility of such sub-contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many visits were made by personnel from his Department to detainees transferred from British forces to the government of Afghanistan in each year since 2005; and what the purpose was of each visit. (165889)

Records show that, since 27 April 2007, UK armed forces personnel have made 13 visits to see detainees transferred to the government of Afghanistan, normally seeing several detainees in one visit. The purpose of the visits was to check on the welfare and status of the detainees.

Information related to visits prior to 27 April 2007 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision there is to provide (a) washing facilities and (b) washing powder for clothing at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. (167404)

Personnel at Camp Bastion have access to a contract laundry facility to wash clothing. This facility is provided free of charge. The frequency of the laundry service currently allows for two 5 kg bags per person per week. Washing powder is available from the NAAFI should personnel wish to wash items by hand.