Written question asked by Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative) on Monday, 18 May 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 20 May 2009. It was answered by Ivan Lewis (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 September 2009 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Peacekeeping Operations: Private Sector

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the Lord Toms of Cheltenham of 5 May 2009, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA106, on private military companies, how many personnel of private military companies are operating under contracts with his Department.

Answer: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office holds a number of contracts with private military and security companies (PMSCs) to provide services such as close protection, static guarding and police mentoring. We do not hold contracts with individual personnel of those companies nor is there a centrally held record of how many personnel are employed by them providing services to the Government. Additionally a number of overseas posts hold contracts with PMSCs locally. To establish the number of personnel working for the companies operating under contracts with us would therefore be a wide ranging exercise, the cost of which would be disproportionate.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 496 c1966W; 276800
Session: 2008-09
Related items: Private Military Companies
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Private sector Peacekeeping operations Private military and security companies
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk