§ Mr. CECIL WILSONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the amount of opium which is produced in, imported into, and exported from Iraq; how many shops are licensed for its sale; whether at any time, and, if so, when, the trade has been suppressed except for medicinal purposes; and, if so, why its revival has been permitted?
§ Mr. AMERYNo opium is produced in Iraq. The cultivation of the poppy for this purpose was prohibited in 1918. The latest available figures of imports and exports are those for the first five months of the current financial year. During that period, apart from merely transit trade, opium to the value of rupees 16,869 was imported into Iraq; none was exported. In 1924 there were 26 licensed shops for the retail sale of opium. So far as I am aware the answer to the third part of the question is in the negative. The last part does not, therefore, arise.