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which we have available, which include the new programme budgets administered by geographical AUSS. My own programme budget has been increased from £200,000 to £500,000 with this need in mind.
3.
In implementing this decision we need to observe the following guidelines:-
(i) the overriding criterion in deciding whether to use FCO funds,
is: will this benefit British foreign policy interests.
(ii) FCO funds should not be used on projects appropriate to the
Home Office or ODA Votes;
(iii) although my own programme budget has been expanded, it should not be regarded as uniquely for, or the only source of, drugs-related expenditure there will be other claims on it from other Departments which I supervise. So I will not necessarily be able to pick up all proposals for expenditure on drugs not taken care of by others;
4.
(iv) geographical AUSS may provide funds from their own
programme budgets for drugs projects, bearing in mind (i) and (ii) above.
We need to consider how these guidelines should be applied in practice within the FCO. In particular it will be important to ensure that proposals for drugs-related expenditure are properly coordinated, whether they are to be funded from my own or other AUSS' programme budgets or from elsewhere. NCAU are the central coordinating point in the FCO and also act as the principal channel with other Whitehall Departments, representing the FCO (Diplomatic Wing) on the various interdepartmental drugs bodies, etc. They have compiled a comprehensive list of outstanding requests for help which has been put to the Home Office and ODA; once it is clear which, if any, requests they accept as appropriate to their Votes, it will be possible to decide which of the remaining items should be paid for from my expanded programme budget and which of the items identified by other AUSS as high priorities for their budgets remain to be dealt with. We shall need to establish some order of priorities. Since NCAU will have led with the Home Office and ODA, I shall ask them also to coordinate this exercise in full consultation with relevant geographical Departments and subject to approval by AUSS. They will need to ensure consistency of approach and to see that there is no overlap with the activities or responsibilities of the Home Office, ODA, police or between FCO Departments.
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/6.