Afghanistan

Mr. Mackay
15. To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of counter-narcotics operations on the level of insurgency in southern Afghanistan.

Des Browne
Targeted counter-narcotic operations by Afghan forces continue to contribute positively to the international effort to stabilize that country. While there has been some opposition, this has been localised and it is not assessed to have significantly affected the wider insurgency.

Mr. Lancaster
17. To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in establishing Afghanistan development zones; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne
UK operations in Afghanistan are focused around the Lashkar Gah Development Zone. To date, the creation of six other Afghan Development Zones has been announced and we expect more to follow.

John Barrett
19. To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether British forces will take (a) M26 and (b) any other cluster munition rockets among the ammunition to be used by multiple launch rocket systems when deployed in Afghanistan.

Des Browne
No.