To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the United Kingdom is taking to support the implementation of the Townsville Peace Agreement in the Solomon Islands. [124265]

The UK continues to work closely with the Commonwealth, EU partners and other governments in the region to support reconciliation and reconstruction in the Solomon Islands. We have contributed to the International Peace Monitoring Team, monitoring of the elections in 2001, and the law and order sector. We have supported external appointments to strengthen the judiciary and, at the request of the Solomon Islands Prime Minister, the secondment of a Police Commissioner and support staff from Britain to the Royal Solomon Islands Police.We remain concerned by the chronic lawlessness which continues to obstruct all efforts towards economic recovery and development. We welcome the proposal for a major new regional initiative, comprising a police contingent with military support, led by Australia and New Zealand, to assist recovery of the Solomon Islands. This initiative has the support of regional governments and has been welcomed by the UN. The Solomon Islands parliament is now considering the proposals. We are considering what further assistance we could provide as part of a coordinated donor effort.