4-05-04

Barrett backs bill on arms trade

John Barrett, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, today helped introduce a parliamentary bill to help tackle the international arms trade.

Mr Barrett has co-sponsored a cross-party Private Member's Bill that would sign the UK up to the International Arms Trade treaty.  The Bill was introduced formally in the House of Commons by Tony Baldry, who Chairs the International Development Select Committee on which Mr Barrett also sits. 

The Arms Trade Treaty was forged by leading international organizations, including Amnesty International, Saferworld and Oxfam.  It would tighten the global regulation on the arms trade and is already backed by a number of countries including the Netherlands , Brazil and Cambodia.

Although the UK Government has made positive statements about the Treaty, it has so far refused to sign up to it in full.

In a statement, John Barrett said:

"There are almost 640 million small arms and light weapons in the world today and 8 million more are produced every year.  These weapons fuel the international conflicts, the oppression, the crime and deaths we all want to see stopped. The trade in arms also means money that should be spent on tackling poverty is instead spent on weapons. 

"As one of the biggest arms exporters, the UK has a duty to lead by example.  Although the Government has a reasonably good record on reforming export rules, signing up to the Treaty would send a strong message to those countries that have less stringent laws. That is why I want to see this Bill passed as soon as possible."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• More information on this issue is available at the 'Control Arms' website - www.controlarms.org