UK force levels in southern Iraq currently stand at around 4,100. In keeping with the plans my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister set out to Parliament on 8 October 2007, Official Report, column 23W, we continue to plan to be able to reduce UK force levels in southern Iraq to around 2,500 from this spring. Final decisions however will, as always, be based on the advice of our military commanders and conditions on the ground at the time. Work continues on the details in consultation with our coalition partners and the Government of Iraq.
Based on actual food and storage and distribution costs, and forecast personnel numbers for March 2008, the average cost per capita, per diem, of food, and the storage and distribution of food, for troops and civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan is as follows:
Cost (£) Food (Percentage) Storage and distribution (Percentage) Iraq 6.47 51 49 Afghanistan 12.84 32 68
The ratio between fresh food and operational ration pack elements of the cost varies between the operational needs in each environment. Equally, the storage and distribution requirements for each operational theatre vary, and hence the proportion of overall cost attributable to each is different.
In Afghanistan, there are additional storage and distribution costs in meeting the demands of that operational environment, for example military charter flights and convoys to support the forward operating bases, and these cannot be broken down.
Catering costs in both theatres would include: capital costs of kitchens and dining rooms; maintenance of catering infrastructure; civilian contracts in support of catering. This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.