§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the necessity of genetically modifying the mycotoxins involved in the United Nations Drug Control Programme research into the use of mycotoxins in drug crop eradication programmes; and if he will make a statement; [134272]
(2) what assessment he has made of the potential dangers arising from United Nations Drug Control Programme research into the use of mycotoxins in drug crop eradication programmes; and if he will make a statement; [134271]
(3) what assessment he has made of the potential for mutation of the mycotoxins involved in the United Nations Drug Control Programme research into the use of mycotoxins in drug crop eradication programmes; and if he will make a statement; [134273]
(4) what assessment he has made of the potential dangers arising from the use of (a) naturally occurring and (b) genetically-modified mycotoxins in drug crop eradication programmes; and if he will make a statement. [134274]
§ Mr. BattleThe only United Nations International Drugs Programme (UNDCP) research into mycotoxins in drug crop eradication programmes is into the opium poppy fungus, pleospora papaveracea. The UK has supported this programme which has focused on establishing whether this naturally occurring fungus is viable as an opium poppy control agent and whether the fungus is specific to opium poppy.
Subject to the progress of research in this phase, a further phase of research would investigate wider safety issues, including the potential for mutation. The Government have made it clear that if research revealed harmful effects, the UK would withdraw support and press for closure of the programme.
No consideration is being given to the use of genetically modified mycotoxins in drug crop eradication programmes.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been contributed by his Department towards the funding of United Nations Drug Control Programme research during each of the last five years for which figures are available. [134276]
§ Mr. BattleThere was no FCO spending on research programmes of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) in the financial years 1995–96 or 1996–97. Figures since then are as follows:
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- 1997–98—£100,000 for research into pleospora papaveracea
- 1998–99—£58,281 for assessment of drug abuse in Iran
- 1999–2000—£1,051,748 for surveys of coca and poppy cultivation in Columbia, Peru and Afghanistan and studies of the drugs trade in Afghanistan.
In addition, in 1999–2000 the FCO contributed £100,000 to the UNDCP Caribbean Coordination Mechanism, of which a proportion, not readily disaggregated, contributes to collection of information on the drug problem in the Caribbean region.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which states have contributed towards the funding of United Nations Drug Control Programme research into the use of(a) pleospora papaverecea; (b) fusarium oxysporum and (c) other mycotoxins in drug crop eradication programmes during each of the last five years for which figures are available. [134264]
§ Mr. BattleThe United Kingdom and the United States have contributed to the funding of the United Nations International Drugs Control Programme (UNDCP) research into the opium poppy fungus, pleospora papaveracea. The UK contributed £100,000 to the project in 1998. There is no current UNDCP research into either the coca fungus, fusarium oxysporum, or other mycotoxins for drug crop eradication programmes.