Dear B Torvell

Freedom of Information Request F2009-147

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 29 June 2009 in which you asked for the following information:

1. What is the number of visitors (persons not on active duty in the theatre) to DFID stations in Afghanistan for every month since October 2001?

2. How many man hours, broken down by month for every month since October 2001, were spent hosting visitors?

The answer to both questions is none. DFID do not host non-duty visits to our offices/stations in Afghanistan. All DFID-hosted visitors to Afghanistan are considered as being on active duty during their period in country. Duty visitors may include consultants, trainers, permanent DFID staff and Ministers etc. All duty visitors agree the objectives of their visit in advance with the in-country team, and great care is taken to ensure that all visits further the delivery of our programme.

You may wish to note that while such work-related visits are frequent, we do not keep records stretching back to 2001.  You might also be interested in the following link to our website which provides some information on DFID's work in Afghanistan:

http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Where-we-work/Asia-South/Afghanistan/

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me quoting reference F2009-147.

If you are unhappy with the service we have provided and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to Openness Unit at the address shown above or email [DFID request email].

If you do make a complaint and are not content with the outcome, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted DFID's complaints procedure. You can contact the Information Commissioner at the following address:

The Information Commissioner's Office,

Wycliffe House,

Water Lane,

Wilmslow,

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely

John McGinn

Openness Unit

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED