§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what official efforts of discouragement have been made to the Governments of those countries that are known to be cultivating opium on a large scale.
§ Mr. MellorWe have in the past brought pressure to bear through the United Nations on those countries in which illicit opium is produced. The Government consider, however, that it will usually prove more beneficial to adopt a positive approach towards producer countries by offering advice and assistance both through the United Nations and bilaterally, in particular on the strengthening of law enforcement capabilities. For example, we are currently contributing to a programme developed jointly by the Government of Pakistan and the United Nations fund for drug abuse control.