HC Deb 18 November 2003 vol 413 c760W
Mr. Gardiner

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial assistance the United Kingdom provides to governments in developing countries to reduce their weapons stocks; and what financial support is given to prevent the sale of military surpluses. [138607]

Hilary Benn

The UK Government fully supports the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) which commits governments including those of developing countries to dispose of small arms stocks, preferably by destruction, that are surplus to national requirements.

The UK Government is helping developing countries manage and reduce weapons stockpiles through its Global Conflict Prevention Pool SALW strategy. The UK is providing £7.5 million over three years to the Small Arms Destruction Unit (SADU) of UNDP's Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Recovery for weapons collection, management and destruction work in forty-five developing countries. Since the start of the programme in 2001 SADU have destroyed over 360,000 weapons and in excess of 24 million items of ammunition.

The UK Government is also providing £1.9 million for the development of 5-year National Action Plans in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique and Namibia. These Plans will provide a comprehensive approach to weapons controls in these countries, and will include disarmament, destruction and weapons management elements. Two NGOs, Saferworld and SaferAfrica, are undertaking this work with the governments of these countries.

The UK seeks to address the problem comprehensively, rather than by earmarking funds to prevent any potential sales of military surpluses.