§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking(a) directly, (b) through the EU and (c) through other organisations to assist the Government of Pakistan in combating drug trafficking; what assistance is being given to the supply of equipment to combat drug trafficking with particular reference to helicopters; and if he will make a statement. [22306]
§ Mr. BaldryWe have given considerable narcotics-related assistance to Pakistan, both bilaterally and through multilateral channels. Last financial year, bilateral assistance included the provision of law enforcement training by Her Majesty Customs and Excise. Multilaterally we have pledged over £8 million since 1985 to projects administered by the United Nations drug control programme to strengthen law enforcement control of the Pakistan/Iran/Afghanistan border area and to reduce the supply of opium through rural development.
152W
Annual compensation payment to age 60 rate pa Superannuation lump sum Lump sum compensation payment Total in £ Year 1990–91 Compulsory None None None — Flexible 9674 29022 n/a 38,696 3564 1085 n/a 4,649 3332 9093 n/a 12,425 Year 1991–92 Compulsory None None None — Flexible 6088 16225 n/a 22,313 FSSU scheme member — 6034 6,034 1628 4261 n/a 5,889 Year 1992–93 Compulsory 8206 21551 8154 29,757 Flexible 3591 10382 n/a 13,973 4094 10656 n/a 14,750 4199 12169 n/a 16,368 10876 31865 n/a 42,741 Year 1993–94 Compulsory None None None — Flexible 8685 23422 n/a 32,107 4418 13178 n/a 17,596 n/a n/a 3033 3,033 4950 12987 n/a 17,937
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what studies his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated in respect of financial inducements to people in Afghanistan to persuade them to cease growing poppies used in the production of drugs. [22304]
§ Mr. BaldryAfghanistan is now believed by the United Nations drug control programme and others to be the largest producer of illicit opium in the world. Much of the production is trafficked in the form of heroin to western Europe, including the UK.
In present circumstances, action by UNDCP is likely to be more effective in combating illicit drug production in Afghanistan than that by individual countries. The Government have therefore recently contributed £100,000 to preparation by UNCP of a strategy to reduce illicit opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, and will consider further financial support in the light of the result.