Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what recent assessment he has made of the UK's contribution to and involvement in NATO’s Istanbul co-operation initiative; and if he will make a statement; [58873]

(2) what recent assessment he has made of the UK's contribution to and involvement in NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue. [58874]

Gerald Howarth MP; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State: The United Kingdom supported fully the decision to make co-operative security with partners one of the three essential core tasks of NATO's 2010 strategic concept. In support of tackling common security challenges, we are engaged in the process of strengthening NATO's co-operation with all partners, including the Istanbul co-operation initiative nations a nd the Mediterranean Dialogue nations, on the basis of a range of enhanced mechanisms agreed at the April 2011 NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting. It is encouraging that some nations involved in these initiatives are contributing to operations in Libya.