To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effects on levels of poverty in Helmand province of his Department's activities in that area in the last 12 months; and what mechanisms are used to measure that effect. (306649)

The most recent data relating to poverty in Afghanistan were collected in 2007-08 as part of the National Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (NRVA). Analysis of NRVA data relating to Helmand will be published in early 2010. Data relating to changes in poverty in Helmand over the last 12 months are currently being collected and will be available in due course.

The Department for International Development (DFID) measures the effects of all its programmes through routine monitoring and evaluation.