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Proceeding contribution from Tobias Ellwood (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 10 December 2008. It occurred during Queen's speech debate on Foreign Affairs and Defence.

Foreign Affairs and Defence

I am grateful to the Secretary of State for giving way so early in his speech. He talks about soldiers, diplomats and aid workers, but there is concern among Opposition Members that there is not enough co-ordination between those three elements, particularly at ministerial level. The Secretary of State will be aware that this year has been the bloodiest ever in Afghanistan; in August there were 46 fatalities. There is a concern that we do not know who is in charge of Government strategy when it comes to Afghanistan. Is it the Prime Minister, is it the Foreign Secretary, is it the Secretary of State for International Development or is it the Secretary of State for Defence? It is time that that one person who is in charge of the overall strategy, which I understand is about to change, came here on a regular basis to give us a proper update.

Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
485 c559-60 
Session
2008-09
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Asylum Armed forces Defence Armed conflict Iraq Economic situation Foreign policy India Foreign relations Nuclear power Peacekeeping operations Politics and government Piracy Nuclear disarmament Pakistan Terrorism USA Afghanistan Addresses to the Crown Sudan Zimbabwe Iran Middle East Reconstruction Peace negotiations Democratic Republic of the Congo Somalia Trident Stabilisation Unit EU battlegroups
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk