To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value of cash allowances awarded to military staff in Afghanistan was in 2008-09. (314182)

The monetary value of cash allowances awarded to military staff in Afghanistan in 2008-09 was £30.6 million on local overseas allowance and longer separation allowance. These allowances contribute towards the necessary additional local cost of day-to-day living of those serving overseas and compensate personnel who are experiencing longer than usual separation from their families.

A further £66.5 million was awarded for the operational allowance in Iraq and Afghanistan, of which approximately £40 million was in Afghanistan. This allowance recognises the increased danger involved in serving in specified operational locations, over and above that which is taken into account in basic pay.

The allowances were funded from the reserve as a net additional cost of military operations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2010, Official Report, column 516W, on Afghanistan, to how many of his Department's civilian staff based in Afghanistan in 2008-09 the total was paid. (314375)

In financial year 2008-09, operational allowances were paid to 104 MOD civilian personnel based in Afghanistan.