Written question asked by Jeremy Corbyn (Labour) on Wednesday, 2 May 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 11 May 2001. It was answered by Lord Spellar (Labour) on Friday, 11 May 2001 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will give details of the British (a) military and (b) other personnel training of the Colombian Government forces, indicating in each case the cost and whether it forms part of Plan Colombia. - Includes figures.

Answer: Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the British (a) military and (b) other personnel training of the Colombian Government forces, indicating in each case the cost and whether it forms part of Plan Colombia. [160643] Mr. Spellar: We maintain contacts with the Colombian armed forces and some police units on a range of issues. These contacts occasionally include the provision of training, including counter drugs training, and cost in the region of £70,000 in financial year 2000-01. I am withholding further details under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which covers information whose disclosure would be harmful to national security, defence or international relations. The United Kingdom has not provided financial or other support to Plan Colombia. Instead the UK is contributing to, and fully supports, assistance to Colombia through the European Union of 105 million euros over the next five years. The EU package will focus on measures to support human rights, long term economic and social development and an end to violence.

Secondary information