§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings UK representatives have held with human rights organisations in Colombia since May 1997; and how many embassy staff in Colombia are dedicated to human rights work. [153692]
§ Mr. BattleUK representatives have a regular and on-going dialogue with human rights organisations in Colombia. My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and I met a range of human rights organisations, NGOs, church and trade union leaders during our visit to Colombia in September 2000, including representatives from Christian Aid, CODHES, Mandato Ciudadano por la Paz, Indepaz, Redepaz, No Mas, and also Padre Francisco de Roux and Monsignor Pedro Rubiano. Recently on 8 March in London, I hosted a round table on Colombia with UK NGOs, Padre de Roux and the Presidential Counsellor for Security and Alternative Development. My right hon. Friend met a number of other leading human rights organisations during her visit to Colombia in March this year, including Women Waging Peace, CINEP and CCJ. We value all these contacts and will continue this substantial dialogue.
Human rights are central to the work of the embassy in Bogota. A considerable proportion of the time of several embassy staff is devoted to human rights work.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial support has been given by the UK to Plan Colombia to date; and what further expenditure is planned. [153693]
§ Mr. BattleI refer to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 14 December 2000,Official Report, columns 227–28W. There is no UK Government financial involvement in Plan Colombia either bilaterally or through the EU. Assistance through the EU of 105 million euro will support human rights, long-term economic and social development, and an end to violence. No expenditure is planned by the UK Government to support Plan Colombia.
2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 Predicted achievement of projects' core requirements (percentage) 91 97 97 97 Average cumulative slippage of In Service Dates not to exceed (months) 23.8 13.8 13.5 11.8 Average cumulative cost variation not to exceed (percentage) 4.9 3.6 3.5 0 Customer satisfaction rating (percentage) 65 70 75 78 Reduce operating costs in relation to 1997–98 Procurement Executive costs by (percentage) 19 22 26 26