§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will provide a full analysis of their role in the funding of advice concerning South Africa's gun laws. [HL4352]
§ Baroness AmosIn April 1999, following a request from the Government of South Africa (Office for the National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS)/Department for Safety and Security) the Department for International Development (DFID) approved funding of £62,475 (R631,000) to support a project proposal from the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Cape Town. The project derives from the South African Government's well publicised intention to produce legislation to improve safety and security. It provides for technical advice to the Government of South Africa for the drafting of new legislation on the ownership and control of firearms and ammunition in South Africa and for the participation of ISS (on behalf of the South African Government) in the negotiations leading to an international protocol on the illicit trafficking and manufacturing of firearms and ammunition. DFID assistance was provided directly to ISS as part of the department's new programme of support for security sector reform.
The Firearms Legislation Drafting Team, chaired by the project leader from ISS, submitted a first draft of the Firearms Control Bill to the Department for Safety and Security in July as agreed. DFID's input to this component of the ISS project is therefore complete. ISS will continue to represent the South African Government in international negotiations on the firearms protocol until August 2000.