16. To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with governments of Latin American countries on drug trafficking. (115416)

The UK has regular contact with Latin American partners on drugs issues.

Last October, I visited Colombia where I had meetings with the Vice President, and the Foreign and Defence Ministers. On the same trip, I also met with the Minister of Interior and the Head of the National Drugs Agency in Venezuela. These discussions focused on combating the flow of cocaine, and emphasised the importance we place on working with regional partners to tackle the illegal drugs trade. In November I met Vice President Santos at the Colombian Government’s Shared Responsibility event in London. I also met with the Head of the Peruvian anti-drugs agency in November.