Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel are attached to the British Embassy in Buenos Aires; what the rank of such personnel is; and what duties they perform. [91848]

Nick Harvey MP; Minister for the Armed Forces: The Ministry of Defence has two military personnel attached to the British embassy in Buenos Aires. The Defence Attache is a Colonel, currently from the Royal Marines, and his deputy is a Major, currently from the Army. They are accredited to Argentina and have non-resident accreditation to Uruguay.

The Defence section is attached to the ambassador's staff as representatives of chief of the Defence staff; as such they represent the MOD and UK armed forces. They pursue security co-operation policies and priorities to enhance Defence Diplomacy and provide bespoke military support to the embassy.