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20 Apr 2009 : Column 42W—continued
ISAF forces operating in Helmand come from a number of different nations, which often operate closely alongside each other and alongside Afghan Army and Police units. The environment in which forces are operating makes it extremely difficult precisely to distinguish between incidents initiated by insurgent forces and those initiated by ISAF.
The numbers of troops in contact events, regardless of the instigator, involving Multinational Forces and insurgents in Multi-National Division (South East) (MND (SE)) for each complete month from March 2006 to February 2009 for which verified data are available are shown below.
| 2006( 1) | 2007( 1) | 2008( 1) | 2009( 1) | |
| (1) Rounded to the nearest 10 | ||||
The numbers of indirect fire events, regardless of the instigator, involving Multinational Forces and insurgents in MND (SE) for each complete month from March 2006 to February 2009 for which verified data are available are shown below.
| 2006( 1) | 2007( 1) | 2008( 1) | 2009( 1) | |
| (1) Rounded to the nearest 10 | ||||
Multinational Forces operating in MND (SE) come from a number of different nations, which often operate closely alongside each other and alongside the Iraqi Security Forces. The environment in which forces are operating makes it extremely difficult precisely to distinguish between incidents initiated by insurgent forces and those initiated by Multinational Forces.
All data shown above are data based on information derived from a number of sources and can only be an estimate, not least because of the difficulties in ensuring a consistent interpretation of the basis for collating statistics in a complex fast-moving multinational operational environment.
I hope that the above information addresses your concerns on this matter.
I will place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contacts between British and anti-coalition militia forces there have been in Helmand province in each roulement since June 2006. [257686]
Mr. Hutton: The Ministry of Defence is currently collating and validating the data needed to answer this question. I will write to the hon. Member when this work is complete, and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Substantive answer from John Hutton to Liam Fox:
I am writing to provide you with the information promised in my holding replies to your Parliamentary Questions regarding contacts between British forces and anti-coalition militia in Afghanistan (Official Report, 24 February 2009, column 520W).
The Ministry of Defence has recently completed a review of the data required to answer this question, and has revised the manner in which we classify and present data to ensure consistency.
The numbers of troops in contact events, regardless of the instigator, involving the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and insurgents in Helmand province as part of Task Force Helmand for each complete month from June 2006 to February 2009 for which verified data are available are provided in the table below.
| 2006( 1) | 2007( 1) | 2008( 1) | 2009( 1) | |
| (1 )Rounded to the nearest 10 | ||||
ISAF forces operating in Helmand come from a number of different nations, which often operate closely alongside each other and alongside Afghan Army and Police units. Without undertaking a detailed assessment of each engagement, it is not possible precisely to define in every case whether an attack was aimed at UK forces, at our ISAF partners, or against Afghan units. Data are therefore collected on the number of incidents involving ISAF forces in Helmand without attempting to identify the nationality of the forces actually being attacked. The environment in which forces are operating makes it extremely difficult precisely to distinguish between incidents initiated by insurgent forces and those initiated by ISAF.
These data are based on information derived from a number of sources and can only be an estimate, not least because of the difficulties in ensuring a consistent interpretation of the basis for collating statistics in a complex fast- moving multinational operational environment.
I hope that the above information addresses your concerns on this matter.
I will place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military engagements there have been between UK armed forces and Taliban insurgents in the last two months [265311]
Mr. Hutton: The Ministry of Defence is currently collating and validating the data needed to answer this question. I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Substantive answer from John Hutton to Michael Ancram:
I am writing to provide you with the information promised in my holding reply to your Parliamentary Question regarding military engagements between UK armed forces and the Taleban (Official Record, 23 March 2009, Column 10W).
The Ministry of Defence has recently completed a review of the data required to answer this question, and has revised the manner in which we classify and present data to ensure consistency.
The number of engagements, regardless of the instigator, involving the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and insurgents in Helmand province as part of Task Force Helmand, for the last two complete months for which verified data is available are provided below.
January 2009(1)—210
February 2009(1)—200
(1)( )Rounded to the nearest 10
ISAF forces operating in Helmand come from a number of different nations, which often operate closely alongside each other and alongside Afghan Army and Police units. Without undertaking a detailed assessment of each engagement, it is not possible precisely to define in every case whether an attack was aimed at UK forces, at our ISAF partners, or against Afghan units. Data are therefore collected on the number of incidents involving ISAF forces in Helmand without attempting to identify the nationality of the forces actually being attacked. The environment in which forces are operating makes it extremely difficult precisely to distinguish between incidents initiated by insurgent forces and those initiated by ISAF.
These data are based on information derived from a number of sources and can only be an estimate, not least because of the difficulties in ensuring a consistent interpretation of the basis for collating statistics in a complex fast-moving multinational operational environment.
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