To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 30 November 2009, Official Report, column 415W, on departmental drinking water, what the reasons are for the increase in expenditure against the contract between November 2008 and October 2009. (304519)

The increase towards the end of the 12 month period was primarily due to support to Operation Panther’s Claw, including provision to members of the Afghan national army and US forces.