§ Adam PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether UK military liaison teams provided(a) advice and (b) assistance to the Colombian armed forces during 2002; and what plans there are to do so this year. [105584]
§ Mr. IngramThere have been occasions when we have sent military liaison teams to Colombia to provide advice and training assistance. The nature of this advice and assistance is confidential between governments and I am withholding the details under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which covers information whose disclosure would be harmful to national security, defence or international relations. The uncertainties regarding military deployment as a result of Operation TELIC make forward planning for this type of assistance this year impossible at present.