HC Deb 19 November 2003 vol 413 cc940-1W
Mr. Hepburn

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of United Kingdom aid to Afghanistan since 2001 has been used to combat the production of opium. [138728]

Hilary Benn

Tackling opium production in Afghanistan requires action in many areas: to improve the ability of the government to enforce the law and implement a coherent counter-narcotics strategy and to improve the conditions for legal private sector economic growth to offer people involved in poppy cultivation the chance of a licit alternative livelihood.

DFID's assistance to Afghanistan contributes to all of these areas. Since October 2001, DFID has disbursed £157 million of aid to Afghanistan. This has included humanitarian support which prevents people from sliding into the marginalised criminal economy, £35 million of financial assistance to the Afghan Government, and over £5 million in assistance to develop the capacity of the Afghan Government.

DFID has already provided £2.5 million for specific sustainable livelihoods programmes and has projects being implemented worth nearly £10 million. DFID has recently doubled its budget for sustainable livelihoods programme to £20 million over three years. This represents over 10 per cent. of total DFID assistance over the next three years and over 20 per cent. of the budget for programmes excluding financial assistance.

The Government have allocated £70 million over three years specifically to combat the production of opium in Afghanistan. This includes a £5.4 million contribution from DFID's £20 million livelihoods budget. In total, this represents some 30 per cent. of planned UK assistance to Afghanistan over the next three years.