---

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the performance of the ASSIST programme in its first year; and what changes to the programme are planned. [87285] Mr. Tony Lloyd: As my hon. Friend will be aware from my announcement in the House on 26 March 1998, the ASSIST programme was established on 1 April 1998 to replace the UK Military Training Assistance Scheme (UKMTAS), with the main purpose of re-focusing support to the Government's priority of promoting respect for human rights and good governance. Notable results in the first year included: a course in China run together with Save the Children Fund, designed to fight child trafficking; direct human rights training for the Russian military; a workshop on conscientious objection in Novograd; and a women and children protection course in the Philippines. The transition to new objectives made a good start in the financial year 1998-99 with 84 per cent. of spending being compatible with the new ASSIST criteria. For the next financial year, as pre-existing commitments reduce we shall be increasing this percentage and further refining the ASSIST criteria. New objectives will include: The addition of an objective to promote the re-establishment of appropriately structured and armed forces in post conflict situations (internal and external) and in newly democratised countries; Promotion of the security of the Overseas Territories; The inclusion of training for peacekeeping in accordance with UN guidance; Cooperation with NGOs and other representatives of civil society on security sector assistance; Increased emphasis on counter proliferation and combating small arms trafficking. Enhancement of the professionalism of the armed forces has been withdrawn as an independent objective within the criteria. We have set up an ASSIST Challenge Fund to be used for flagship projects. To enable greater continuity and planning, we have agreed that ASSIST will continue for at least 3 years. We are also liaising with the MOD and DFID to ensure that ASSIST's programmes complement those Departments' programmes in related areas. A copy of the new ASSIST criteria will be placed in the Library.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

333 c117-8W; 87285

Session

1998-99

Subjects

Armed forces Human rights Expenditure Training Military aid ASSIST programme

Contains statistics

Yes