To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department's financial contribution will be in support of the EU military mission to Chad and Central African Republic under the 2004 Athena mechanism. (249715)

Under the Athena mechanism, the UK's share of the approved budget for the EU military operation in Chad and Central African Republic is expected to be £14.7 million on the planned conclusion of the mission in March. This funding comes from the UK Government Peacekeeping Budget which is jointly managed by MOD, DFID and FCO and funded directly from the Treasury reserve.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British armed forces personnel have served as part of EUFOR TChad/CAR in each of the last 12 months. (249717)

Over each of the last 12 months, the UK has maintained a contribution of four military officers as part of EUFOR TChad/Central African Republic (CAR): two officers in the operational HQ at Mont Valerien in Paris and two officers in the force HQ in Chad. These staff officers are being provided under standing EU headquarters augmentation procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Russian (a) military and (b) civilian contracted helicopters are currently used by EUFOR Tchad/CAR; and on how many occasions British personnel have flown in each. (249741)

The Russian contingent provides four military and no civilian contracted helicopters for current use by EUFOR Tchad/Central African Republic (CAR). No British personnel have flown in these helicopters.