To ask Her Majesty’s Government to what extent the Ministry of Defence provides an integrated, basic and formal education, including lessons in reading and writing, to recruits to the Afghan Army; and whether the provision of that education is a core element of their plan to create a democratic society in Afghanistan. [HL1050]

Basic training for the Afghan National Army is provided by the NATO Training Mission—Afghanistan, to which the UK contributes trainers. Recruits on the course currently have the opportunity to take part in voluntary literacy classes but there will shortly be a compulsory literacy training week during basic training.

In Helmand, UK forces work to improve the basic literacy and numeracy of members of the Afghan National Security Forces by means of train-the-trainer programmes run by the Adjutant General Corps (Educational and Training Services) and the Ministry of Defence police.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have held with foreign governments to increase the number of nations providing resources to the coalition forces in Afghanistan. [HL1478]

We continue to press our allies to share more of the burden in Afghanistan. In December 2009 the NATO Secretary General announced that ISAF allies, not including the US, have pledged an additional 7,000 troops.