Written question asked by Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Conservative) on Tuesday, 20 February 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 22 February 2007. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Tuesday, 27 February 2007 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Afghanistan: Opium

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Afghan Government on ground level spraying of the poppy crop in Afghanistan.

Answer: Opium poppy eradication policy and implementation is the responsibility of the Afghan Government. The Afghan Government has decided not to use ground based spraying on opium poppy crops this year, but will keep the option open for the future. We support well-explained pilots of ground based spraying, targeted in areas of Afghanistan where the security situation permits, and where there is good access to legal livelihoods for farmers. We have explained to the Afghans that we are keen to test the efficiency of ground based spraying over manual and mechanical eradication methods, as well as testing the impact on the local population in stable areas of the country. However, it was always crucial that the Government of Afghanistan came to its own decision on this matter.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 122850; 457 c1192-3W;457 c1176-7W
Session: 2006-07
Related items: Afghanistan: Drugs
Monday, 12 March 2007
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Drugs Afghanistan
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk