To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military and security assistance for Colombia is provided by the Government (a) bilaterally and (b) multilaterally; and what conditions and restrictions are placed on this aid. [120173]

[holding answer 19 June 2003]: We do from time to time provide military and security advice and assistance to Colombia. 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.