§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received on heroin production in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban regime; and what steps her Department is taking to tackle heroin production in Afghanistan. [106115]
§ Clare ShortI receive regular Parliamentary Questions and letters from Members of Parliament and others on opium production in Afghanistan.
The UK is the lead partner nation to the Afghanistan Transitional Administration on counter-narcotics. The Government as a whole is working with the Afghans to support a comprehensive strategy to eliminate opium production in Afghanistan within ten years. My Department is contributing to this effort by supporting the creation of sustainable, alternative, licit livelihoods for people in Afghanistan, including those involved in poppy production.
In addition to support for broad based rural economic development, we have provided £2.8 million to quick impact reconstruction projects, including in drug producing areas and is providing £1 million to an Aga Khan Foundation alternative livelihoods programme in and around poppy-growing areas in Badakshan, in north-eastern Afghanistan.