§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with representatives of the U.S. Government concerning their anti-drugs policies in Colombia. [73714]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe UK maintains a wide-ranging dialogue on drugs policy with the US. I visited Bogota in September 1997 and October 1998, when I held discussions with the Colombian government on their own approach to the drugs problem.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with the Government of Colombia concerning(a) human rights abuses and (b) internal migrations. [73716]
§ Mr. Tony LloydI have raised the question of human rights, including internal displacement, several times with senior members of the Colombian Government, including President Pastrana and his predecessor, President Samper, both in London and during my two visits to Colombia. These discussions have covered, among other things, the activities of the paramilitaries (which are a major cause of internal migration), impunity, the safety of human rights workers and individual cases.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with representatives of British companies operating in Colombia about(a) human rights and (b) environmental damage. [73715]
§ Mr. Tony LloydI have discussed both human rights and environmental issues with BP.