To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many enemy combatants have been captured by UK forces during operations in Afghanistan in each month of the last two years. (230814)

I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member on 14 October 2008, Official Report, column 1016W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the ratio is of (a) British combat armed personnel to UK Chinook helicopters deployed in Afghanistan, (b) British combat armed personnel to UK Apache helicopters deployed in Afghanistan and (c) UK Apache helicopters to UK Chinook helicopters deployed in Afghanistan. (232248)

The ratio of UK Apache helicopters to UK Chinook helicopters deployed in Afghanistan is approximately 1:1.

I am withholding information regarding the ratios of UK deployed personnel and Chinook and Apache helicopters as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness and security of the armed forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Afghanistan. (232430)

Afghanistan continues to present significant security challenges, particularly, in the south and east of the country where the Taliban continue to use intimidation and violence against the local population. In Helmand, progress has been made along the Helmand river valley and we are expanding control with the Afghan Security Forces taking an ever more active role.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many studies his Department has (a) initiated and (b) completed on the lessons learned for his Department from the war in Afghanistan; and if he will place a copy of each completed study in the Library. (232934)

The Department continually studies every aspect of our continuing operations in Afghanistan to identify and learn lessons in order to improve our operational capability. This work contains sensitive information and is therefore being withheld as its release would or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness and security of our armed forces. The Department does routinely engage with the Defence and Foreign Affairs Committees on such matters as lessons learned from operations, and these reports are already widely available in the public domain.