HC Deb 31 October 1996 vol 284 cc218-9W
Ms. Short

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will list the countries in which British police or other bodies provided training for police or security forces in those countries; how long they have been in each country providing such training and what form that training takes for each; what criteria are used to determine whether training is provided, and in what terms of reference are given for the training; what influence countries' human rights records have on determining police or security force training provided by the United Kingdom; if monitoring is carried out after the training to evaluate its impact; and what form that monitoring takes. [442]

Dr. Liam Fox

Countries whose police and security forces have received training from the FCO diplomatic wing include:

  • Police/security force training (DW)
  • Belize
  • Chile
  • Czech Republic
  • Costa Rica
  • Cyprus
  • El Salvador
  • Fiji
  • Honduras
  • Hungary
  • India
  • Kazakstan
  • Kenya
  • Lebanon
  • Malaysia
  • Nicaragua
  • Palestinian Authority
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Paraguay
  • Philippines
  • Romania
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Sri Lanka
  • 219
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Uganda
  • Vanuatu
  • Malta
  • Nepal

Countries who received aid for in—country police training from ODA in 1994 and 1995 were listed in the answer given to the hon. Member for Cardiff, Central (Mr. Jones) on 14 May, Official Report, column 385.

Details of training programmes are not kept centrally and it would involve a disproportionate cost to collate this information for each of the countries referred to above. Training for the police is considered alongside other priorities for assistance in consultation with recipient Governments. Programmes of training are tailored in content and duration to the requirements of the police forces to be assisted. Human rights records are taken into account in the provision of assistance along with other good government and developmental considerations, including poverty, as well as the UK's national interest. The FCO police advisers and other diplomatic, ODA and training staff monitor police projects during implementation. For all aid projects costing above £250,000, a project completion report is prepared providing a preliminary assessment of impact. A selection of projects are also subject to detailed evaluation. An evaluation of a selection of police projects is planned in 1997.