§ Mr. CallaghanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the involvement of his Department in the effort to reduce the illegal import of drugs from Colombia. [36278]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorThe United Kingdom has provided over £13 million worth of drugs-related assistance to Colombia since 1989. This has included training and equipment for various Government Departments and agencies responsible for drug control. This Department's assistance has since 1993 focused on anti-drugs training for the Colombian anti-narcotics police. In recent weeks, this Department has paid for a course in container profiling to assist the detection of drugs in sea freight at the port of Barranquila and for the production of educational videos for use in drug prevention work in Medillin.
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§ Mr. CallaghanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current United Nations policies to combat drug abuse; and if he will make a statement. [36276]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorThe United Kingdom strongly supports the leading role played by the United Nations drug control programme in co-ordinating the international fight against the scourge of drugs. We particularly support its regional and sub-regional approach, based on solid work at national level, and its efforts to promote greater focus on drug control issued in all relevant parts of the UN system. The United Kingdom is currently the third largest donor to the programme, to which three Government Departments, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Overseas Development Agency and the Home Office, all contribute funds. UN drugs control projects funded by Her Majesty's Government are carefully monitored.