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Afghanistan trips by celebrities cost over £400,000 in 2011 | Afghanistan trips by celebrities cost over £400,000 in 2011 |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The government spent more than £400,000 on sending celebrities to visit soldiers in Afghanistan last year, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said. | The government spent more than £400,000 on sending celebrities to visit soldiers in Afghanistan last year, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said. |
The MoD arranged a series of trips to the front line in an attempt to keep British troops' spirits high. | The MoD arranged a series of trips to the front line in an attempt to keep British troops' spirits high. |
Pop star Cheryl Cole was among those to visit last year. | Pop star Cheryl Cole was among those to visit last year. |
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond told MPs the total cost, "including an element for UK travel and mobilisation", was £437,637. | Defence Secretary Philip Hammond told MPs the total cost, "including an element for UK travel and mobilisation", was £437,637. |
"Entertainment of members of the armed forces is, and has for many years, been an important element of the deployment welfare package," he told MPs. | "Entertainment of members of the armed forces is, and has for many years, been an important element of the deployment welfare package," he told MPs. |
"It helps to maintain morale and thereby the combat-effectiveness of service personnel. | "It helps to maintain morale and thereby the combat-effectiveness of service personnel. |
"The MoD has a contract with combined services entertainment to provide entertainment to members of the armed forces deployed overseas, including Afghanistan." | "The MoD has a contract with combined services entertainment to provide entertainment to members of the armed forces deployed overseas, including Afghanistan." |
'Minimal cost' | |
It is not known if the celebrities were paid for their visits to Afghanistan. | |
But Mr Hammond said those who visited were transported and accommodated alongside armed forces personnel "at minimal extra cost to the public purse". | |
Mr Hammond was responding to a written Parliamentary question from Conservative MP for East Yorkshire, Greg Knight. | |
Former X Factor judge Cole flew to Camp Bastion in Helmand province last September, to mark 10 years of British operations in the country. | |
As part of her visit, she met with soldiers, sailors and air force personnel serving in the country, including those who had been wounded in action. | |
Other celebrities who have travelled to Afghanistan include former Manchester United and England footballer David Beckham, classical singer Katherine Jenkins and singer and former soldier James Blunt. |
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