Written question asked by Andrew Murrison (Conservative) on Wednesday, 11 June 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 13 June 2008. It was answered by Bob Ainsworth (Labour) on Tuesday, 17 June 2008 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Armed Forces: Parcels

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that all British troops serving in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan receive their entitlement of free family parcels; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Mail posted from anywhere within the United Kingdom typically takes three to seven days to reach Iraq and Afghanistan. All British Forces Post Office addressed mail is delivered several times daily to the British Forces Post Office depot at Northolt for sorting and onward transmission to its final destination. All mail for Iraq and Afghanistan is bagged, loaded daily onto road transport and driven to Royal Air Force Brize Norton or Royal Air Force Lyneham for loading on to military or charter flights to the operational theatres.The British Forces Post Offices in the theatres seek to clear the mail daily. This is usually achieved in Iraq due to the collocation of the majority of British forces in the Basra base. However, in Afghanistan the onward transmission of mail can be delayed because mail for units deployed to forward positions has to be transported by helicopter for the final leg of delivery. Although all steps are taken to ensure timely delivery, mail transported by helicopter comes behind ammunition, medical supplies and food in order of priority.

Secondary information