Oral Answers to Questions

Thomas Docherty Excerpts

Tuesday 19th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Thomas Docherty (Dunfermline and West Fife) (Lab)]

4. What recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on Afghanistan.

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

I meet Secretary Clinton regularly and last discussed Afghan security, political and economic issues with her on the eve of President Obama’s state visit here.

[Thomas Docherty]

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his answer. I hope that he will take the opportunity to convey both our thanks to the Secretary of State for the work of General Petraeus and our full confidence that General Allen will take that forward in the coming period. Will he discuss with the Secretary of State the way in which we can involve women more in the future of Afghanistan?

[Mr Hague]

I have conveyed those thanks. In fact, I will meet General Petraeus later this week, and will once again convey them to him. Women have a very important role, in our view, in the future of Afghanistan. I have met women students at Herat university, and a conference for women who could play a leading role in bringing peace to Afghanistan was held at the same time as the Kabul conference last year. That is an agenda that the United States and the United Kingdom want to push. Secretary Clinton is foremost in doing so, and we will support her.