§ Mr. Corbettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is proposing to take to ensure that opium poppy crops grown for seed are marketed solely for the purposes for which they are being grown.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 17 April 1986, c. 470]: Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the unlicensed extraction of opium from poppies is already an offence. What, if any, additional steps to take will be decided in the light of the report which my officials are preparing jointly with those from the Home Office.
§ Mr. Corbettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of contracts signed to grow opium poppy for seed in England ad Wales; and what is the estimated contracted acreage.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 17 April 1986, c. 470]: Reports suggest a total of about 20 contracts covering up to 300 acres.
§ Mr. Corbettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of his officials are involved in preparing a joint report with the Home Office into opium poppy production in England and Wales; and how many meetings have so far been held.
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§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 17 April 1986, c. 470]: Four of my officials are directly involved in the preparation of the report, and one meeting has taken place with Home Office officials.