HC Deb 27 October 1986 vol 103 cc16-7W
Mr. Wareing

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 22 October about the Minister of State's visit to South America in respect of drug abuse control, how much financial assistance was offered; and what information he has as to how this compares with that offered by other European countries.

Mr. Mellor

The Government plan to spend around £1 million on drug-related assistance in South America. The main elements of this programme consist of £600,000 and £200,000 in support of the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control law enforcement projects in Bolivia (Los Yungas) and Ecuador respectively. In response to requests from Governments in the region we have undertaken to provide some help with training for medical and technical experts and the police, and training in the use of sniffer dogs for drugs detection. Offers of direct bilateral assistance, the detailed costings of which have yet to be finalised, have also been made in respect of the following items:

Bolivia

  1. (i) contribution towards the cost of a drug treatment and rehabilitation centre in Cochabamba;

Peru

  1. (i) cost of repairs to a Britten-Norman Islander aircraft confiscated by the police from drug traffickers;
  2. (ii) the purchase of a second Islander aircraft which, with the other aircraft, would enable the police to transport a complete 'Condor' team on jungle raids;

Columbia

  1. (i) provision of 2 spectophotometers for drug analysis.

We understand that the other European countries which are supporting UNFDAC's activities in South America are Italy (47 million United States dollars), Federal Republic of Germany (5.2 million DM) and Sweden (0.7 million United States dollars).