Written question asked by Baroness Tonge (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 10 July 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 July 2000. It was answered by John Battle (Labour) on Thursday, 13 July 2000 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which UN-sponsored fungal herbicide field trial projects his Department supports to combat (a) coca, (b) opium and (c) marijuana; pursuant to his Answer of 8th June, 351 c309W, on drugs control, for what reason Her Majesty's Government is not funding research into Fusarium Oxysporum; and if he will list the fungal herbicides for which Her Majesty's Government is providing research funding via the UN Drugs Control Programme. - Inc figure.

Answer: Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) which UN-sponsored fungal herbicide field trial projects his Department supports to combat (a) coca, (b) opium and (c) marijuana; [130453] (2) pursuant to his answer of 8 June 2000, Official Report, column 309W, on drugs control, for what reason Her Majesty's Government are not funding research into Fusarium Oxysporum; and if he will list the fungal herbicides for which Her Majesty's Government are providing research funding via the UN Drugs Control Programme. [130454] Mr. Battle: The UNDCP research into Fusarium Oxysporum is fully funded by the United States. Her Majesty's Government were not approached for funding of this research. UNDCP research into the viability of Pleospora Papaveracea, a naturally occurring fungus, as a control agent specific to opium poppy, is supported in part by UK funding, from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, of £100,000 which was granted in 1997. The UK is not funding UNDCP research into any other fungal herbicides.

Secondary information