Written question asked by David Cairns (Labour) on Wednesday, 5 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 11 November 2003. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 November 2003 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 he has made of the UN Report, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2003. (Failed OPQ) - Inc ref to 412 c20WS, 30 October 2003.

Answer: David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the UN Report, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2003. [137418] Mr. Rammell: I would refer the right hon. Member to the statement I made on 30 October 2003, Official Report, column 20WS, regarding the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) survey results for the 2003 opium poppy crop in Afghanistan. While the increase in opium cultivation and production is unwelcome, it is not unexpected. Experience of counter- narcotic policies in other countries, such as Pakistan and Thailand, shows that cultivation tends to increase before declining.

Secondary information