HL Deb 19 November 1985 vol 468 cc492-3

2.52 p.m.

Lord Rodney

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are any proposals to draw up a new United Nations convention to counter drug trafficking.

Lord Glenarthur

Yes, my Lords. A proposal for a new convention to deal with drug trafficking was brought forward by the Venezuelan Government at the United Nations General Assembly last year. Her Majesty's Government firmly support this proposal. Our suggestions and comments on the elements that such a convention might contain were placed in the Library on 3rd July.

Lord Rodney

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that encouraging Answer. Can he say whether, among these suggestions, any provision was made for the possible extradition of traffickers in drugs?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, this is one of the aspects which is considered, and of course my noble friend will see that it is more fully set out in the paper.

Lord Elystan-Morgan

My Lords, I welcome what the Minister has said on that matter. Does he agree that equally important as the new convention is the question of practical working relations day by day with those countries from which the drugs come, particularly narcotic drugs? Can he assure the House that Her Majesty's Government are making every necessary effort in this field?

Lord Glenarthur

Yes, my Lords, I can give the noble Lord that assurance. No doubt he will be aware that my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary recently visited Pakistan, and there he was able to announce the provision of further United Kingdom financial assistance with crop substitution and rural development projects and also for law enforcement measures in that country. It is right that all countries should be involved, and that is what we are doing our best to encourage.

Baroness Masham of Ilton

My Lords, is the Minister aware that many countries within the United Nations convention derive great income from drug trafficking and that it may not be in their interests to try to stop this? Is there any way that those countries can be penalised?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I believe that question was really answered by my Answer just now. My honourable friend made that announcement of an extra £2.4 million to Pakistan for precisely what the noble Baroness seeks—crop substitution. That is one of the ways in which this problem can be tackled.