Cuts to counter-terrorism work in Pakistan

The Foreign Office today admitted it had been forced to cut back on counter-terrorism work in Pakistan because of the pound's fall in value.

There were also cutbacks in anti-drugs operations in Afghanistan in the department's efforts to make up a shortfall of £110 million in 2009/10.

Foreign minister Baroness Kinnock outlined areas where budgets had been cut at question time: "We have had staff redundancies in Argentina, Japan and across the United States.

"Programmes in Afghanistan in counter narcotics have been cut, capacity building to prevent conflicts in Africa, counter-terrorism and radicalisation in Pakistan, the list goes on."

Labour's Lord Acton responded to the Pakistan cuts by saying: "Would you say whether this is really wise and would you consider looking at it again?"

Lady Kinnock replied: "It is a fact that counter-terrorism and radicalisation projects in Pakistan and elsewhere have been the subject of these cuts that the Foreign Office has been obliged to make."

She said the department had "pursued a vigorous efficiencies programme" but there had also been "cuts to travel and training and reduced programme funding" on matters such as climate change.

The department receives £2 billion a year, of which more than £1.1 billion is confined to the British Council, BBC World Service and subscriptions to international organisations.