Oral Answers to Questions

Owen Smith Excerpts

Tuesday 14th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Bellingham]

I had the chance to meet Professor John Ruggie the other day, and I am working hard to ensure that the guiding principles are incorporated and endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, as that would provide extra clout and credibility.

[Owen Smith (Pontypridd) (Lab)]

13. What recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the political situation in Afghanistan.

[The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr William Hague)]

I last met Secretary Clinton on the eve of President Obama’s state visit. We had a productive discussion on a range of issues, including the political situation in Afghanistan.

[Owen Smith]

I am grateful for that answer. Will the Foreign Secretary tell us whether those discussions also touched on the prospect of British troops remaining in Afghanistan post-2014, and if so, how many and with what remit exactly?

[Mr Hague]

Yes, such matters were included in our talks, but they are also a matter of our public policy position. As we have said, British troops will not be engaged in a combat role after 2015 or in anything like the numbers that are involved today. We have set out our intentions in line with the prospects and aims for transition to Afghan security control throughout Afghanistan by 2014.