With other colleagues, my right hon. Friend rightly criticised the delay before the setting up of the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war. Is he not perturbed that there is now a similar delay by our own Government in considering the lessons from the war in Afghanistan? I initiated a...

With other colleagues, my right hon. Friend rightly criticised the delay before the setting up of the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war. Is he not perturbed that there is now a similar delay by our own Government in considering the lessons from the war in Afghanistan? I initiated a...

It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Pritchard, and to see an interesting cross-section of colleagues present at what I hope will be a good debate about the lessons from the war in Afghanistan.

Over the past week I have had to put up with a number...

It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Pritchard, and to see an interesting cross-section of colleagues present at what I hope will be a good debate about the lessons from the war in Afghanistan.

Over the past week I have had to put up with a number...

The hon. Gentleman makes a valid point. That is the law of unintended consequences. I do not think that we, the Americans or our allies wanted things to turn out in that way in either Iraq or Afghanistan, but he is correct: that story is continuing and should concern all...

The hon. Gentleman makes a valid point. That is the law of unintended consequences. I do not think that we, the Americans or our allies wanted things to turn out in that way in either Iraq or Afghanistan, but he is correct: that story is continuing and should concern all...

There is a direct connection, although I do not necessarily completely agree with the hon. Gentleman’s logic. If he will bear with me, I shall come on to that.

The basis of British foreign and security policy is twofold: first, absolutely to hang on to and stand by the special relationship...

There is a direct connection, although I do not necessarily completely agree with the hon. Gentleman’s logic. If he will bear with me, I shall come on to that.

The basis of British foreign and security policy is twofold: first, absolutely to hang on to and stand by the special relationship...

The problem with our participation in the Iraq campaign and our military commitment in Afghanistan, which then expanded, was that the policy aims changed, and widened out. There is an argument—I do not actually stand by it but there are many who believe it, including perhaps some hon. Members present—that,...

The problem with our participation in the Iraq campaign and our military commitment in Afghanistan, which then expanded, was that the policy aims changed, and widened out. There is an argument—I do not actually stand by it but there are many who believe it, including perhaps some hon. Members present—that,...

I agree with my hon. Friend. That was the problem.

The material in the public domain—official records and the memoirs of civil servants and senior military officers—shows that it is difficult to establish how, for

example, our commitment to Helmand came about. Helmand province was irrelevant in terms of the overall security...

I agree with my hon. Friend. That was the problem.

The material in the public domain—official records and the memoirs of civil servants and senior military officers—shows that it is difficult to establish how, for

example, our commitment to Helmand came about. Helmand province was irrelevant in terms of the overall security...

As we all know, that kind of co-ordination is helpful, but it is not the same as having a proper machine, with minutes, allocation of clear objectives and a full-time National Security Adviser.

As we all know, that kind of co-ordination is helpful, but it is not the same as having a proper machine, with minutes, allocation of clear objectives and a full-time National Security Adviser.

It is indeed. My right hon. Friend, who is very experienced, has touched on a problem that occurred not only with the Foreign Office but with DFID and the Ministry of Defence. Often in life, there is the feeling that once an overall decision has been made to do something,...

It is indeed. My right hon. Friend, who is very experienced, has touched on a problem that occurred not only with the Foreign Office but with DFID and the Ministry of Defence. Often in life, there is the feeling that once an overall decision has been made to do something,...

There is no doubt that the Americans have viewed with a degree of dismay what they see as the decline in the critical mass of our foreign policy and

defence, because they value that. However, they have often been disappointed in our ability to deliver what we promise.

We suffer, and...

There is no doubt that the Americans have viewed with a degree of dismay what they see as the decline in the critical mass of our foreign policy and

defence, because they value that. However, they have often been disappointed in our ability to deliver what we promise.

We suffer, and...

None of us is naive enough not to think that the view of the Treasury is paramount, but there has to be a balance. It is not about Ministers versus the military. I would draw into the National Security Council not only the CDS but the chiefs of staff. I...

None of us is naive enough not to think that the view of the Treasury is paramount, but there has to be a balance. It is not about Ministers versus the military. I would draw into the National Security Council not only the CDS but the chiefs of staff. I...

Will my right hon. Friend give way?

Will my right hon. Friend give way?

My right hon. Friend has only six minutes left, but will he address some of the questions that we have all raised?

My right hon. Friend has only six minutes left, but will he address some of the questions that we have all raised?

(2) pursuant to the Prime Minister's statement of 30 November 2009, Official Report, columns 831-36, on Afghanistan and Pakistan, on what date it was agreed with the Afghan government that the further 10 Afghan companies would be deployed to Helmand;

(2) pursuant to the Prime Minister's statement of 30 November 2009, Official Report, columns 831-36, on Afghanistan and Pakistan, on what date it was agreed with the Afghan government that the further 10 Afghan companies would be deployed to Helmand;

(3) when he plans to answer question 304940, on the deployment of 10 Afghan companies in Helmand province tabled on 2 December 2009;

(3) when he plans to answer question 304940, on the deployment of 10 Afghan companies in Helmand province tabled on 2 December 2009;

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to the Prime Minister's statement of 30 November 2009, Official Report, columns 831-36, on Afghanistan and Pakistan, on what date it was agreed with the Afghan government that the 600 Afghan soldiers would be deployed to Helmand;

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to the Prime Minister's statement of 30 November 2009, Official Report, columns 831-36, on Afghanistan and Pakistan, on what date it was agreed with the Afghan government that the 600 Afghan soldiers would be deployed to Helmand;

(4) when he plans to answer question 304938 on the deployment of 600 Afghan soldiers in Helmand province tabled on 2 December 2009.

(4) when he plans to answer question 304938 on the deployment of 600 Afghan soldiers in Helmand province tabled on 2 December 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Prime Minister's Statement of 30 November 2009, Official Report, columns 831-36W, on Afghanistan and Pakistan, what agreements have been reached with (a) the government of Afghanistan and (b) international partners on sources of funding for the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Prime Minister's Statement of 30 November 2009, Official Report, columns 831-36W, on Afghanistan and Pakistan, what agreements have been reached with (a) the government of Afghanistan and (b) international partners on sources of funding for the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Prime Minister's Statement of 30 November 2009, Official Report, columns 831-6W, on Afghanistan and Pakistan, on what date it was agreed with the Afghan government that the number of Afghan police in Helmand would increase to 4,100; and how...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Prime Minister's Statement of 30 November 2009, Official Report, columns 831-6W, on Afghanistan and Pakistan, on what date it was agreed with the Afghan government that the number of Afghan police in Helmand would increase to 4,100; and how...