§ Mr. Jim MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what role British forces are playing in the destruction of the Afghan opium poppy crop; [40387]
(2) what instructions have been given to British forces in Afghanistan in respect of preventing the export of heroin to the United Kingdom; [40388]
(3) what role British forces are playing in the tracking down and destruction of heroin stockpiles in Afghanistan; [40386]
(4) how many tonnes of heroin stockpiled in Afghanistan have been destroyed by (a) British forces and (b) the Afghan Government. [40391]
§ Mr. IngramThe International Security Assistance Force's role in Afghanistan is to assist the Afghan Interim Authority in providing security and stability in Kabul. Some opiate stockpiles may have been destroyed during coalition military attacks on terrorist targets. I understand that the Afghan Interim Authority is planning to destroy the opium crop this month.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the Afghan Government about the role of British forces in Afghanistan. [39595]
§ Mr. HoonI met the Afghan Defence Minister in London on 31 January 2002. I also met members of the Afghan Interim Administration (AIA) in Kabul on 5 February 2002, notably the Chairman of the AIA and the Interior and Defence Ministers. We discussed a variety of issues, including the role of British forces in Afghanistan.