DEATHS IN HELMAND PROVINCE

That this House records its sorrow at the deaths of five British soldiers in Helmand Province and salutes their courage and professionalism; regrets the complacency of the April statement of the former Defence Secretary that the mission could be over in three years `without firing one shot'; is appalled that after five years of expensive drug eradication this year's poppy harvest will be the biggest ever and the British street price of heroin the lowest ever; believes the threat to destroy the main livelihood of the people of Helmand has incited murderous resentment against UK troops and increased support for the Taliban that could lead to a British Vietnam and Afghani terrorism on British streets; further believes that the only practical reform would be to license poppy farmers to use their crops to end the world shortage of morphine; and calls for a rethink of a policy of using bombs and bullets to win hearts and minds.