§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress of Plan Colombia and of the United Kingdom's involvement. [2379]
§ Mr. MacShaneIt is too early to assess the impact of Plan Colombia as it is designed to produce results over a number of years. One specific goal, for example, is to reduce the cultivation, processing and distribution of illegal drugs by 50 per cent. over a six-year period (2000–06).
There is no UK Government financial involvement in Plan Colombia, either bilaterally or through the EU. No expenditure is planned by the UK Government to support the Plan. Instead, the UK is contributing to and fully supports assistance to Colombia through the European Union of 105 million euro over the next five years. The EU package will focus on measures to support human rights, long-term economic and social development, including alternative development, and an end to violence.