To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what payments his Department has made to Green Issues in the last 12 months; for what purposes such payments were made; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract under which such payments were made. (305250)

Payments made to Green Issues Communications so far in financial year 2009-10 have totalled approximately £195,000.

The payments are for a contract to provide support to the Submarine Dismantling Project in the areas of consultation and communications.

No other records of central payments to Green Issues have been found in the last 12 months.

I shall not place a copy of the contract in the Library as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.