To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role the National Security Committee has had in (a) the review of Afghanistan strategy led by the Prime Minister and (b) the 2008 periodic assessment of Afghanistan strategy; and on how many occasions since July 2007 the Committee has convened to discuss Afghanistan. (256064)

Information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees, including when, how often and for how long they meet, is generally not disclosed; as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

However, Ministers meet regularly under the auspices of the Ministerial Committee on National Security, International Relations and Development to discuss the United Kingdom’s policy towards Afghanistan, in light of the ongoing review of the Government’s Afghanistan strategy. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, the International Development Secretary, and the Defence Secretary are kept regularly informed of progress in implementing the strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 23 February 2009, Official Report, column 362W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, what the main findings of the internal stock-take of Government policy in Afghanistan completed in December 2008 were. (260242)

I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 2 March 2009, Official Report, column 1234W.