Written question asked by Tam Dalyell (Labour) on Tuesday, 26 October 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 9 November 1999. It was answered by John Battle (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 November 1999 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions (i) he and (ii) his Department has had with the governments of Peru and Colombia about the export of precursors to drugs; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (i) he and (ii) his Department has had with the Governments of Peru and Colombia about the export of precursors to drugs; and if he will make a statement. [96497] Mr. Battle: We share the increasing international concern about precursors. We have frequent exchanges with Peru and Colombia at Ministerial and official level on drugs issues. These cover all aspects of the problems which drugs present to our societies, including the problem of the diversion into drugs production of legitimately exported chemicals. In 1995, the European Community signed agreements with Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela aimed at preventing the diversion of precursor chemicals. UK law enforcement agencies work closely with their counterparts in other countries to counter such diversion.

Secondary information