Dear Mr Craig-Best,

Thank you for your correspondence of the 3^rd February 2009 requesting, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, information relating to the cost of counter-narcotics assistance provided by the MoD to Colombia each year since 2002.

In regard to the information that you have requested, we are withholding the information under Sections 26 (Defence) and 27 (International Relations). Whilst we accept the genuine public interest in the subject of UK assistance to Colombia, we consider that in this case the public interest in disclosure is outweighed by the harm that is likely to be caused by making these details available. This decision has previously been upheld by the Parliamentary Ombudsman. I refer you to the letter from this Directorate to you, dated 13^th February 2009, for details of this decision by the Ombudsman.

As the exemptions applied are qualified exemptions, and in order to support our decision, we have undertaken a Public Interest Test. In this case, we consider that release of the information is likely to prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and Colombia through impairing confidential communications and by causing the withdrawal or reduction of effectiveness of UK support. Furthermore, we consider that disclosure would prejudice the security of UK personnel and UK operations by raising the threat level from anti-Government groups (Colombian) and drugs cartels.

Balanced against this we recognise the public interest in disclosure. This Department accepts that there is widespread interest in UK defence policy and the activities of the Armed Forces, and that it is wholly appropriate in many cases for the public to understand how, why and what key decisions are taken in these areas. More specifically, this Department recognises the public interest in UK activities in a country where there are allegations of human rights abuses levelled at representatives of the government.

In making these decisions, we refer to the previously mentioned precedent set in 2005 where the Parliamentary Ombudsman upheld the decision of this Department to withhold details relating to counter-narcotics activity in Colombia.

If you are unhappy with this response or you wish to complain about any aspect of the handling of your request, then you should contact me in the first instance. If informal resolution is not possible and you are still dissatisfied then you may apply for an independent internal review by contacting the Director of Information Exploitation, 6th Floor, MOD Main Building, Whitehall, SW1A 2HB (e-mail [email address] ). Please note that any request for an internal review must be made within 40 working days of the date on which the attempt to reach informal resolution has come to an end.

If you remain unhappy following an internal review, you may take your complaint to the Information Commissioner under the provisions of Section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act. Please note that the Information Commissioner will not investigate the case until the internal review process has been completed. Further details of the role and powers of the Information Commissioner can be found on the Commissioner's website, http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours Sincerely,