To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the planned closure dates are for the UK defence sections in posts in (a) Albania, (b) Croatia, (c) Guatemala, (d) Iceland, (e) Macedonia, (f) Slovakia and (g) Thailand. (183380)

The Defence sections in Albania, Croatia, Guatemala, Macedonia and Thailand will have closed officially by 1 April 2008. Some support staff will remain beyond this date in order to close accounts and dispose of equipment and vehicles. The Defence sections in Ireland and Slovakia closed on 26 and 31 October 2007 respectively. There is no Defence section in Iceland.