§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to stop giving military aid to Colombia; and if he will make a statement. [132079]
§ Mr. IngramBritish military assistance to Colombia is focused primarily on Explosive Ordnance Disposal training, and provision of British military education. We believe that it provides clear benefits to the Colombian Armed Forces, and the country as a whole, by reducing the number of deaths (civilian and military) from explosive devices, and by introducing Colombian military personnel to British defence concepts in key areas such as the democratic and accountable control of the armed forces and Rules of Engagement. As a matter of policy, we therefore do not intend to cease providing military assistance to Colombia.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the benefits of giving British military aid to Colombia; and if he will make a statement. [132080]
§ Mr. IngramBritish military aid to Colombia is focused on providing assistance primarily in the fields of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and military education and training. Mines and other explosive devices are responsible for a significant proportion of deaths among the Colombian armed forces, and also have a devastating effect on the civilian population. Provision of British military training and education is designed to help Colombia develop more professional armed forces, and to introduce personnel to British defence concepts, including the importance of accountable and democratic control of the armed forces, and the use of Rules of Engagement.
The nature of other aspects of military advice and assistance provided to Colombia is confidential between Governments, and I am withholding details under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which covers information where disclosure would be harmful to national security, defence or international relations.
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§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much military aid Britain has given to Colombia in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [132175]
§ Mr. IngramDetails of military assistance to Colombia from January 2000 onwards are in the list. Information on assistance before this date is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The nature of other aspects of military advice and assistance provided to Colombia is confidential between Governments, and I am withholding details under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which covers information where disclosure would be harmful to national security, defence or international relations.
18–28 January 2000: One officer visited Colombia to discuss with the Colombian armed forces the disposal of terrorist explosive devices and to advise on the maintenance and replacement of EOD equipment. The total cost of this visit was £3,252.08.2–14 September 2000: One officer visited Colombia to advise the Colombian authorities on improving the protection of police stations against terrorist attack. The total cost of this visit was £3,480.00.26 March-6 April 2001: A team of five UK military personnel visited Colombia to provide EOD training support to the Colombian authorities. I am afraid that we have been unable to locate records of the cost of this visit.28 January-2 February 2002: One officer visited Colombia on a remit to scope further aspects of EOD training required by Colombia. The total cost of this visit was £893.61, exclusive of flight costs. In the event, the planned further training did not take place due to UK resource constraints.19–24 March 2003: Two EOD personnel participated in a counter terrorist seminar in Colombia organised by the Metropolitan police, at a total cost of £7,225.30 August-5 September 2003: Three EOD personnel visited Colombia on a scoping visit. Final costs associated with this visit are not yet available.2003–04: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Human Rights Project Fund is supporting a project to raise awareness in the Colombian armed forces on their role in prevention and protection of the rights of internally displaced people, at a cost of £14,723.54.In addition, Britain has funded the following UK-based military training and education courses:
A Colombian officer attended the MSc in Global Security course (August 2002-August 2003), at an approximate cost of £26,760.A Colombian officer attended the Royal College of Defence Studies course from January 2002-January 2003, at an approximate cost of £48,296.A Colombian officer is attending the Advanced Command and Staff College, which began in September 2003, at a projected cost of £77,934.Two Colombians are currently attending the CT Bomb Disposal Course at the Army School of Ammunition at a total projected cost of £15,220.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that military aid to Colombia is not being used by(a) the Colombian army and (b) paramilitary death squads against civilians; and if he will make a statement. [132176]
§ Mr. IngramWhen considering bilateral military assistance to Colombia, the UK takes account of the need to avoid funds being used in any way which would 327W not be compliant with United Nations human rights recommendations. Mechanisms are in place to check that, at the time military assistance is given, the military units involved are not implicated in human rights violations, internal repression, or collusion with paramilitary organisations.