Written question asked by Tam Dalyell (Labour) on Wednesday, 27 November 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 11 December 2002. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Wednesday, 11 December 2002 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the effect of bombing in Afghanistan on the (a) production of and (b) trade in drugs.

Answer: Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the effect of bombing in Afghanistan on the (a) production of and (b) trade in drugs. [84697] Mr. Mike O'Brien: The disruption of drug production and trafficking was not among the aims of the military campaign waged in Afghanistan. Any damage to the drugs trade as a result of bombing would be incidental to the principal aims of the campaign and would not be covered in any battle assessments. It is not possible to calculate from other sources the damage caused to the drugs trade in Afghanistan as a result of bombing.

Secondary information