§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money the UK has allocated to UN agencies for weapons eradication; and if she will make a statement. [7339]
§ Clare ShortMy Department, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, are working to implement the Government's three-year £19.5 million strategy on small arms under our global conflict prevention pool. Under the auspices of the strategy the Government have been looking at ways of providing long-term support to UN agencies for comprehensive arms control and reduction measures, including weapons destruction. To date, we have committed £120,000 to the UN Regional Centre in Lima, Peru to assist in the practical implementation of regional and international agreements to combat illicit weapons trafficking. Also, under the strategy we are planning to commit £7.5 million to supporting the UN Development Programme in a global programme for weapons collection, management and destruction. The strategy will continue to look at areas where support for UN agencies will help to meet our objectives of reducing the number of lives affected by violent conflict through the uncontrolled availability of small arms and light weapons.