Written question asked by Mark Simmonds (Conservative) on Tuesday, 2 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 November 2004. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Thursday, 18 November 2004 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many poppy fields have been (a) identified and (b) destroyed by UK forces in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many poppy fields have been (a) identified and (b) destroyed by UK forces in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban. [196426] Mr. Rammell: Eradication of opium poppy is not a task for UK or other international military forces in Afghanistan. Eradication has been carried out by the Afghan Government in the three years (2002-04) since the fall of the Taliban. The Afghan authorities estimated that 17,300 hectares were destroyed in 2002 and 21,000 hectares in 2003, although there was no independent verification of these figures and we cannot therefore be satisfied as to their accuracy. Eradication in 2004 was carried out by the Afghan Government and the US- supported Central Poppy Eradication Force, where independent verification estimated that less than 4,000 hectares were eradicated. The UK, as lead nation on Counter Narcotics in Afghanistan, is providing support to the Afghan Government on eradication, principally through the Central Eradication Planning Cell.

Secondary information