To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of his Department's personnel are based in Helmand Province; and what their budget for 2008-09 is.

Department for International Development (DFID) staff are currently located in Helmand. For security reasons, DFID does not publish exact details on the number and location of its staff in Afghanistan. The current total unit cost of a single member of staff is around £250,000, incorporating salary and hardship allowances, with the majority accounting for the costs of providing adequate security.