HC Deb 17 June 2003 vol 407 cc137-8W
Mr. George Osborne

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the size of the opium harvest in Afghanistan in each of the last five years. [118706]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that the level of cultivation of opium poppy in Afghanistan was 64,000 hectares in 1998, 91,000 hectares in 1999, 82,000 hectares in 2000, 8,000 hectares in 2001 and 74,000 hectares in 2002.

Mr. George Osborne

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security situation in Afghanistan. [118707]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

Security in Afghanistan remains a serious concern. We deplore the attack on the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on 7 June that resulted in the deaths of four German soldiers. This follows other sporadic attacks against ISAF, Coalition and Transitional Administration targets, as well as UN demining teams and NGOs. The UK continues to contribute to ISAF and, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 8 May, the UK will be leading a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Mazar-e-Sharif from early July. In addition the UK has contributed more than £13 million for Afghan Security Sector reform in the past twelve months.

Paul Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the threat from(a) al-Qaeda and (b) the Taliban in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [118920]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

Although the Taliban and al-Qaeda have failed to gain widespread support in Afghanistan, attacks continue against ISAF, Coalition and Transitional Administration targets, as well as UN de-mining teams and NGOs. We continue to help the Transitional Administration counter these threats through support to ISAF and to the Coalition, and by supporting reform of Afghanistan's own security sector.