§ Mr. LyonsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress British forces have made in restricting the poppy harvest in Afghanistan. [150125]
§ Mr. IngramThe United Kingdom has a comprehensive strategy to assist Afghanistan to end its opium trade. While our armed forces are not directly involved in the366W eradication of the opium poppy crop, their deployments with the International Security Assistance Force and the Provincial Reconstruction Team, and our support for local security forces, all help to contribute towards the counter-narcotics programmes of civilian law enforcement and development agencies. They also help the Afghans themselves to create the structures through which they can implement more effectively President Karzai's commitment to deal with both opium farming and trafficking in his country.