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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Mr. Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on UK assistance to militaries and police forces overseas. [26900] Mr. Bradshaw: UK training and assistance to militaries and police forces overseas has been provided through the ASSIST (Assistance to Support Stability with In-Service Training) scheme, the ASSIST Challenge Fund and English language training programme. In total £6.8 million in FY 2000-01 supported some 220 training and assistance projects for the military, law enforcement agencies and civilian bodies in over 65 countries, with a strong emphasis on human rights and good governance. Examples include the attachment of a UK chief constable to the Indonesian police service to help it establish a new structure and code of ethics; English language training for central and eastern Europe militaries to support their international peacekeeping capabilities and NATO candidature; and a project to help UK and South Asian police forces work together on the issue of forced marriages. Following a review last year of the Government's conflict prevention and resolution activities, the ASSIST budgets have been subsumed into the interdepartmental Conflict Prevention Pools, which continue to fund ASSIST-type activities. The review of the ASSIST activities for 2000-01 gives more detail. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

26900; 377 c957W;377 c959W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Armed forces Human rights English language Police Training Military aid ASSIST programme

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk