§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What support, either bilateral or multilateral, will be given to help to implement the protocol on firearms control, signed in Malawi in August 2001. [HL2204]
§ Baroness AmosThe Southern Africa Development Community Protocol on the Control of Firearms, Ammunition and Other Related Materials is yet to be agreed by all 14 SADC member states. Angola is the only SADC country yet to sign the protocol. It is expected to sign shortly.
170WAThe UK Government have been supporting the development of this protocol indirectly through the funding they provide to the British Non-Governmental Organisation Saferworld. Support for Saferworld dates back to 1998 when we provided funds for a meeting of officials from the EU and SADC which led to the agreement of the Southern Africa Action Programme on Light Arms and Illicit Trafficking. The UK has since provided support to Saferworld for research into the small arms problem in Southern Africa and for the facilitation of meetings of officials from SADC countries to assist in the development of the protocol.
Once the protocol is signed by all SADC countries the UK will consider ways that we might support its implementation, at both the bilateral and multilateral level, through the joint DfID, FCO and MoD Global Conflict Prevention Pool Small Arms and Light Weapons Programme.