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Afghanistan: Opium Poppy Production
Lord Acton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- According to the United Nations poppy crop survey in Afghanistan, what was the level of opium poppy production in that country for each year from 2000–03.[HL880]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: According to the United Nations annual poppy crop survey in Afghanistan, the level of opium cultivation and production in Afghanistan each year from 2000–03 is as follows:
| Year | Hectares | Tonnes |
| 2000 | 82,000 | 3,300 |
| 2001 | 8,000 | 185 |
| 2002 | 74,000 | 3,400 |
| 2003 | 80,000 | 3,600 |
The low level of cultivation and low production figure in 2001 reflect the Taliban ban on opium cultivation; the ban did not however address the underlying causes of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan and was enforced with a mix of threat and bribery.
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: There are no criteria governing the use of the veto. Under Article 27(3) of the UN charter the veto applies to decisions of the Security Council on all other (i.e. non-procedural) matters.
The UK encourages all permanent members of the Security Council to use the veto with restraint and only in accordance with the values of the United Nations. The UK last used the veto in 1989, jointly with the US and France, and has not used it alone since 1972.
Formally changing the scope of application of the veto would require a change in the UN charter. This is unlikely and we are not pursuing such a change.
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: I am pleased that delegates to the Somali leaders' reconciliation consultation in Nairobi reached agreement on new federal political dispensation on 28 January. Against this background, we have no plans at present to introduce a travel ban—or other sanctions—against Somali leaders.
Lord Acton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Andrews: The Department of Health would broadly agree with the description of the psychiatric effects of cannabis described in paragraph 4.11 of the Report from the Science and Technology Committee—Cannabis (HL Paper 39, Session 1998–99). We recognise that while a causative link between early cannabis use and later development of schizophrenia is not conclusively proven, recent epidemiological research has shown a stronger association than was evident at the time of the report.
The department recognises that confirming a clinical diagnosis in the context of continuing psychosis and persistent cannabis use can be a complex process. This needs to be made on a case-by-case basis by consultant psychiatrists and the multi-professional clinical teams involved with the care of particular patients to minimise any risk of mis-diagnosis.
The department notes that neither antipsychotic medication nor the provisions of the Mental Health Act (1983) are exclusively used for the management of schizophrenia. These interventions, in certain circumstances, are used to manage symptoms of psychosis or to detain a patient with "psychosis", so
Baroness Goudie asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): A variety of statutory, voluntary and hospice services currently operate, which provide good quality care to those who might benefit from support or treatment while grieving.
Baroness Goudie asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: There are no immediate plans to implement a nationwide bereavement strategy though officials continue to take an interest in the work of both the statutory and the voluntary bodies which are active in this field.
Baroness Goudie asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: A variety of services are provided by statutory bodies which aim to inform, support and provide practical assistance to children and their families during times of bereavement. Services are usually accessed, following referral or self-referral, after an assessment of the child's needs, which might also include consideration of the needs of their family.
A number of voluntary and hospice organisations also address issues of bereavement and serve to complement statutory services.
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will review the criteria governing the use of veto power by permanent members of the United Nations Security Council; and whether they consider that these criteria should be re-defined and narrowed.[HL932]
Whether they will ban travel to the United Kingdom by the war-lords of Somalia, their families and financial backers; whether they are considering freezing their financial assets where these are located in the United Kingdom; and whether they will seek the imposition of similar sanctions by as many states as possible.[HL948]
Further to their response to the Report from the Science and Technology Committee—Cannabis (HL Paper 39, Session 1998–99) (9th Report, Session 1997–98), whether they will respond directly to paragraph 4.11 of the report.[HL878]
What steps they are taking nationwide to counterbalance the negative effects of a significant bereavement on young people.[HL662]
Whether they have plans to implement a nationwide bereavement strategy to help children who experience a significant bereavement.[HL663]
What measures are in place to help families cope with, and to stay united, during times of bereaving.[HL666]
How many first class honours degrees were awarded by universities in each of the four nations of the United Kingdom; and what percentage these represented of all first degrees awarded in each nation, in (a) 2003; (b) 1998; (c) 1993; (d) 1988; (e) 1983; (f) 1978; (g) 1973; and (h) 1968.[HL817]
2 Feb 2004 : Column WA74
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The available data are tabulated below. Data for 1998 and 2003 include the new universities created following the 1992 Further and Higher Education Act—42 in 1998 and 44 in 2003.
| Country | Year | Total degrees awarded | Total First Class Hons Degree | % First Class Hons Degree |
| England | 68 | 32,945 | 2,311 | 7.0 |
| 73 | 39,244 | 3,045 | 7.8 | |
| 78 | 48,814 | 3,259 | 6.7 | |
| 83 | 57,875 | 3,804 | 6.6 | |
| 88 | 55,254 | 4,729 | 8.6 | |
| 93 | 67,070 | 6,606 | 9.8 | |
| 98 | 187,183 | 16,459 | 8.8 | |
| 2003 | 194,448 | 21,879 | 11.3 | |
| Wales | 68 | 2,880 | 150 | 5.2 |
| 73 | 3,654 | 156 | 4.3 | |
| 78 | 4,244 | 157 | 3.7 | |
| 83 | 5,152 | 162 | 3.1 | |
| 88 | 5,026 | 229 | 4.6 | |
| 93 | 6,248 | 364 | 5.8 | |
| 98 | 10,161 | 752 | 7.4 | |
| 2003 | 12,686 | 1,293 | 10.0 | |
| Scotland | 68 | 5,860 | 300 | 5.1 |
| 73 | 7,808 | 386 | 4.9 | |
| 78 | 8,920 | 439 | 4.9 | |
| 83 | 10,062 | 476 | 4.7 | |
| 88 | 10,026 | 668 | 6.7 | |
| 93 | 11,370 | 1,008 | 8.9 | |
| 98 | 22,873 | 1,639 | 7.2 | |
| 2003 | 23,941 | 2,086 | 8.7 | |
| Northern Ireland | 68 | 1,051 | 66 | 6.3 |
| 73 | 1,771 | 72 | 4.1 | |
| 78 | 1,679 | 55 | 3.3 | |
| 83 | 1,829 | 55 | 3.0 | |
| 88 | 3,450 | 128 | 3.7 | |
| 93 | 4,419 | 300 | 6.8 | |
| 98 | 6,500 | 518 | 8.0 | |
| 2003 | 6,479 | 613 | 9.5 |
Source:
Universities' Statistical Record, Higher Education Statistics Agency.
Baroness Sharp of Guildford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The latest available data are shown in the table. Comparable figures for 2003–04 will not be available until January 2005.
(1) Covers UK domiciled and overseas students in HE and FE institutions.
Baroness Sharp of Guildford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The latest available figures are shown in the table. Comparable figures for 2003–04 will not be available until January 2005.
(2) Covers UK domiciled and overseas students in HE and FE institutions.
(3) The full-time equivalent (FTE) factor used for all part-time students is 0.35.
What proportion of full-time undergraduate students in England are (a) 18–22 years of age; (b) 23-24 years of age; and (c) over 25 years of age.[HL857]
Age Numbers %
Under 18 4,228 0.5
18–22 707,260 78.0
23–24 58,192 6.4
25 and over 137,321 15.1
Total 907,001 100.0
How many students in England in the current academic year are (a) full-time; and (b) part-time; and what is the full-time equivalent number for those who are part-time.[HL881]
Number
Full-time 907,001
Part-time 357,827
FTE of part-time(2) 125,239
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