To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of allegations of links between Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and drug traffickers. (260003)

[holding answer of 2 March 2009]: No reports have been received to support any such allegations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms are in place to ensure that counter-narcotics assistance provided by the Government to the Colombian security forces is not used for counter-insurgency purposes. (260004)

[holding answer of 2 March 2009]: We scrupulously monitor all UK engagement with the government of Colombia on counter-narcotics. Our work continues to meet the highest standards of probity and effectiveness. We do not provide any counter-insurgency assistance.

We fully endorse the efforts of the Government of Colombia to legitimately tackle the influence of illegal, criminal and terrorist groups in a manner consistent with international humanitarian law.