Colombia

Viscount Waverley Excerpts

Monday 7th December 2020 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)]

My Lords, we have an extensive programme, but on the specific and ongoing engagement of the British Council, I will write to my noble friend.

[Viscount Waverley (CB) [V]]

My Lords, keeping Colombia at centre stage and supported is much needed after long agony. The Minister has referred to the question of drugs. Could the Government assist by helping to provide essential access to markets for Colombian farmers as a substitution for the growing of coca and, if so, how might this be achieved? This would be in addition to encouraging that all FARC combatants stay engaged with the peace process and that the ELN comes to the table, along with supporting measures to ensure that human rights are respected, with the possible deployment of UK police, with their professionalism, to offer training and support to the Colombian authorities.

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)]

My Lords, the noble Viscount has made some very practical suggestions that I will certainly take forward. On the general point of how we can shift those who are reliant on the drugs trade within Colombia to alternative means, that is again a very practical suggestion and I can assure him that through our work on the ground, in particular through the embassy, we are working on identifying appropriate measures that can be taken to ensure that we can act responsibly and move people away from narcotics and other drugs.