Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the UK's bi-lateral military relationship with (a) Estonia and (b) Latvia. [41817]

The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP; Secretary of State [holding answer 28 February 2011]: The bi-lateral military relationships with Estonia and Latvia are continuously assessed by the Ministry of Defence, and captured in briefing and policy documents as required by Ministers and senior officials. Estonia and Latvia are participants in the Northern Group initiative: as such, relations with both countries receive particularly frequent scrutiny. Moreover, the UK/Estonia relationship is strengthened by activities in Afghanistan where Estonian and UK forces serve alongside each other.