HC Deb 10 June 2003 vol 406 c768W
Hugh Bayley

To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development when the Secretary of State for International Development intends to publish the report on the conference on strengthening export controls on small arms and light weapons held at Lancaster House on 14 to 15 January 2003. [117752]

Hilary Benn

The report on the conference on strengthening export controls on small arms and light weapons, held at Lancaster House on 14 to 15 January 2003, will be published by 30 June 2003. The report is a joint publication by the Department for International Development, the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence. The main element of the report is the Chairman's Summary, which outlines the areas of consensus established at the conference, and areas that require further work. The UK Government will circulate copies of the report to those who attended the Conference, and will make copies available at the UN Biennial Meeting on Small Arms to be held on 7 to 11 July 2003 in New York. The Report will also be available on departmental websites in due course.

The UK Government are committed to working to build on the useful discussions that took place at the Conference, by working in partnership with others to strengthen consensus on the need for regulation of small arms transfers. The Biennial Meeting in New York will be a useful opportunity to take this work forward with partners within the framework of the UN.

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