§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development when the last census of the Afghan population was; and what discussions are taking place on the question of a new one. [84202]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI have been asked to reply.
The most recent estimate of the Afghan population by the World bank in 2001 was 26.6 million with a further 2.2 million refugees in Pakistan and 1.5 million in Iran.
There has not been a census in Afghanistan since 1963. The UN began work on one in October but it is likely to take five years to complete.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to register Afghan adults so as to ensure universal suffrage in future elections. [84203]
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§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI have been asked to reply.
There is currently no electoral register of Afghan adults. We are considering ways in which we can work with the UN to assist the Afghan Transitional Administration to prepare for the elections, due in mid-2004.