HC Deb 19 April 1971 vol 815 cc807-8
38. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what request he has now received from the Turkish Government for discussions on bilateral assistance for Turkish farmers to transfer to cash crops, other than cannabis; and if he will make a statement.

The Minister for Overseas Development (Mr. Richard Wood)

None, Sir. I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 22nd March.—[Vol. 814, c. 29.]

Mr. Dalyell

Is it not the view of many who have studied the international traffic in drugs, including members of the International Narcotics Committee and including Senator Alan Cranston and his colleagues in the United States Congress, that something must be done about the source of drugs? If the Government are serious in their intention to do something about what is generally recognised to be a very wide drugs problem, is it not up to them to tackle the problem at the source, namely, by helping Turkey and other countries of origin to do something about it?

Mr. Wood

I assured the hon. Gentleman three weeks ago that we are ready to help the Turkish Government if they want us to do so. The problem of crop diversification must be a matter for the Turkish Government. Our interference unwanted would be just about as unpopular in Turkey as Turkish interference would be in our affairs.

Back to