Drugs Control (Hansard, 13 July 2000)

§ Dr. Tonge
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs where the UN Drugs Control Programme field trials using Fusarium Oxysporum have been conducted. [130452]

§ Mr. Battle
UNDCP research into Fusarium Oxysporum, including field testing, has been conducted at a US Government research station in Hawaii.

§ Dr. Tonge
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) which UN-sponsored fungal herbicide field trial projects his Department supports to combat(a) coca, (b) opium and (c) marijuana; [130453]
(2) pursuant to his answer of 8 June 2000, Official Report, column 309W, on drugs control, for what reason Her Majesty's Government are not funding research into Fusarium Oxysporum; and if he will list the fungal herbicides for which Her Majesty's Government are providing research funding via the UN Drugs Control Programme. [130454]

§ Mr. Battle
The UNDCP research into Fusarium Oxysporum is fully funded by the United States. Her Majesty's Government were not approached for funding of this research.
UNDCP research into the viability of Pleospora Papaveracea, a naturally occurring fungus, as a control agent specific to opium poppy, is supported in part by UK funding, from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, of £100,000 which was granted in 1997. The UK is not funding UNDCP research into any other fungal herbicides.

§ Dr. Tonge
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with members of the UN Drugs Control Programme concerning the criteria used to decide where field trials of fungal herbicides to combat coca, opium and marijuana crops take place. [130456]

§ Mr. Battle
The decision on where field trials are held is made by the UNDCP and the authorities of the country where the trials are to take place. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have not had discussions with UNDCP on this issue.
However, we have made it clear that if research into Pleospora Papaveracea showed it to be harmful to the environment, the UK would withdraw support and press for closure of the research programme.