§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what criteria are used by the UN Drugs Control Programme when developing their environmental impact assessments for fungal herbicide field trials; [132545]
(2) pursuant to his answer of 13 July 2000, Official Report, column 653W, on drugs control, what environmental impact assessment of pleospora papaveracea took place before the field trial project in Uzbekistan began; and what environmental impact assessments are taking place during the field trial project; [132544]
(3) pursuant to his answer of 13 July 2000, Official Report, column 653W, on drugs control, what evidence he has received which shows that pleospora papaveracea is a control agent specific to opium poppy. [132543]
§ Mr. Battle[holding answer 26 July 2000]The purpose of the United Nations International Drugs Control Programme research project into pleospora papaveracea is to determine its viability as a control agent specific to the opium poppy and to establish whether there are any environmental risks in its use.
UK funding was made available in 1998 exclusively for this project, which is expected to last a total of 3½ years. Before committing funding, the FCO sought advice from UK agricultural experts at MAFF and at Natural Resources International Ltd (who provide advice to DfID). Their comments, including an assessment of the risks to legitimate cultivated crops, were incorporated into the final design of the project. A British consultant, until recently at the Long Ashton Research Station, has been employed by UNDCP to review and oversee the project and, in particular, to conduct a detailed examination of host specificity of pleospora papaveracea. There has been no direct funding of Long Ashton.
There are no indications in progress reports from UNDCP so far of any adverse effect on agricultural crops or of any risk of uncontrolled spread. Research has explicitly eliminated effects on 112 different plant species. The research is not yet complete.
The Government had 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.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which chemical herbicide field trial projects his Department supports to combat(a) coca, (b) opium and (c) marijuana. [132546]
§ Mr. Battle[holding answer 26 July 2000]None.