§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the international bodies or groups as members of which the Government have taken part in discussions on firearms matters since May 1997; and if he will indicate the topics discussed; [50540]
(2) if he will list the non-Governmental organisations invited by him to take part in international discussions on firearms matters. [50539]
§ Mr. MichaelOn 26 June 1997, the Council of Ministers of the European Union adopted the European Union programme for Preventing and Combating Illicit Trafficking in Conventional Arms. The Government have also taken part in discussions within the United Nations Crime Commission, which adopted a Resolution in April entitled: "Measures to regulate firearms for the purpose of combating illicit trafficking in firearms". Additionally, a statement of principles and action plan to combat illegal manufacturing and trafficking of firearms was drawn up by a Sub-Group of the G8 Lyon Group on Transnational Organised Crime and endorsed at the Birmingham Summit in May. The United Nations Small Arms Panel has considered ways to prevent and combat the accumulation of small arms to help avoid the destabilisation of countries engaged in conflict.
No non-governmental organisations have been invited to take part in these discussions.