Oral answer to question provided on Wednesday, 3 March 2010 in the House of Lords, by Lord Brett (Labour).

Afghanistan: Minerals and Gemstones

Answer: My Lords, between 2004 and 2008, the UK spent £4 million to map mineral deposits in a geological survey of Afghanistan. This helped identify the growth potential of the mining sector and restructure the Afghanistan Geological Survey. We have agreed to help the Ministry of Mines to undertake an ambitious reform programme, with a budget of some £950,000, and the Ministry of Finance to implement the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in Afghanistan, with a budget of £515,000. In February 2010 the EITI board accepted Afghanistan as a candidate country.

This is an answer to the Oral question asked on Wednesday, 3 March 2010 by Baroness Rawlings (Conservative).

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they are providing to the Government of Afghanistan for managing minerals and gemstone resources.

Secondary information