§ Mr. Jim MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the interim Afghan administration's ability to apprehend drug traffickers. [40397]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe Interim Administration, with support from the International Community, is developing its law enforcement capabilities. We are working with the Interim Administration to ensure the development of a significantly enhanced capacity to apprehend drug traffickers and other criminals.
§ Mr. Jim MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what targets have been set for the reduction of opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan; and if these targets have been met. [40394]
§ Mr. MacShaneIt is our long-term aim to have effective and sustainable drugs law enforcement in Afghanistan. An important element of the international community's approach will be measures designed to break the dependence on poppy cultivation of many within Afghanistan. In order for these measures to be effective the Interim Administration will need to set appropriate targets.
§ Mr. Jim MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress there has been towards creating alternative sources of credit for poor Afghan farmers who rely on drug traffickers as their main source of credit. [40396]
§ Mr. MacShaneInternational assistance to Afghanistan has in the first phase focused on humanitarian relief. In the reconstruction and developmental phase the international community, including the UK, will consider structural issues such as the provision of legitimate rural credits.
§ Mr. Jim MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what acreage of the opium poppy crop has been destroyed as part of the Bonn conference agreement. [40401]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe Bonn conference agreement was a political agreement intended to lead to a stable government in Afghanistan after a transitional period. In the agreement the international community and regional organisations were urged to co-operate with the Interim Administration to combat international terrorism, cultivation and trafficking of illicit drugs and provide Afghan farmers with financial, material and technical resources for alternative crop production. The Interim Administration has already introduced a ban on drugs production, processing and trafficking but it is too early to assess the impact on areas already under poppy cultivation.
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§ Mr. Jim MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the role of regional leaders, who operate outside the control of the Afghan Interim Administration, in the Afghan opium poppy production and drug trafficking. [40385]
§ Mr. MacShaneThere was no effective governance in Afghanistan for many years. As a consequence authority was traditionally exercised primarily at the regional level. As a result of the Bonn Process, on 22 December 2001, the Afghan Interim Administration took office as the country's first national Government for many years. In order to establish sustainable drugs law enforcement throughout Afghanistan it will be important for regional leaders to co-operate constructively with national counter-narcotics institutions established by the Afghan Interim Administration.
§ Mr. Jim MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the number of drug traffickers apprehended by the interim Afghan administration. [40398]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe Interim Administration has been in place for just over two months. With support from the International Community it is developing its law enforcement capabilities. Over time, the Interim Administration is expected to develop a significantly enhanced capacity to apprehend drug traffickers and other criminals.
§ Mr. Jim MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Afghan poppy farmers have participated in crop substitution projects since the fall of the Taliban. [40395]
§ Mr. MacShaneIn the short period since the Taliban fell, the international community has co-ordinated a comprehensive programme of humanitarian and development assistance for Afghanistan, within which an anti-narcotics strategy will be an integral part. The provision of alternative livelihoods for Afghan farmers currently dependent on poppy cultivation to sustain themselves and their families will be an important element of the international community's long-term programme of assistance for Afghanistan. We are working closely with the relevant UN agencies to ensure that this assistance is effective and sustainable.
§ Mr. Jim MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the(a) EU and (b) UN since the demise of the Taliban on the destruction of (i) heroin stockpiles and (ii) the current opium poppy crop. [40393]
§ Mr. MacShaneTackling drugs in Afghanistan is an area of key concern to the international community, including the UK. We are consulting closely with partners in the EU and UN on how to address this issue.
§ Mr. Jim MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the level of heroin stockpiles in Afghanistan. [40392]
§ Mr. MacShaneThere is evidence that stockpiles exist. There are no reliable figures as to their exact size.
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§ Mr. Jim MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the international community is providing to the authorities in Herat in their efforts to disrupt the drugs trade. [40399]
§ Mr. MacShaneHerat Province accounts for a very small proportion of Afghan opium cultivation (0.05 per cent. in 2000). The International Community is committed to supporting the Interim Administration's drug control efforts in all parts of Afghanistan. This includes the creation of alternative legal livelihood, the reconstruction of infrastructure, the creation of effective law enforcement institutions and the promotion of good governance.
§ Mr. Jim MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what crop substitution incentives the international community has in place to encourage Afghan farmers to destroy their current poppy crop. [40400]
§ Mr. MacShaneSustainable drug control in Afghanistan can only be achieved by using a variety of different measures including the creation of alternative legal livelihoods (including crop substitution), the reconstruction of infrastructure, effective law enforcement and good governance. Reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan are addressing these issues and the Interim Administration, supported by the international community, is working to achieve effective drug control.
§ Mr. Jim MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the progress towards the destruction of heroin stockpiles in Afghanistan. [40390]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe Afghan Interim Administration is developing its law enforcement capacity to act, inter alia, against the illegal drugs trade. The Interim Administration has already declared a ban on drugs production, processing and trafficking which we have publicly welcomed. The international community, including the UK, is exploring how best to help the Afghans implement this ban and carry out effective and sustainable law enforcement including against the stockpiling of drugs.