PM vows bid to control small arms trade 
Press Association National Newswire (UK)
July 19, 2006
Byline: Vivienne Morgan, PA Chief Parliamentary Reporter

The Prime Minister pledged today to continue the UK's fight to control the illicit trade in small arms.

But he warned that agreement by the whole international community was needed if progress was to be made.

A United Nations conference in New York last week reviewed progress on a 2001 programme of action but did not agree on a concluding document.

At question time today, Plaid Cymru's Westminster leader Elfyn Llwyd said there was 'widespread disappointment" at the UN's failure to agree principles on the transfer of light weapons and arms.

This was despite support from 150 countries for the move.

'Can we rely on the UK government to adhere to its manifesto commitments to challenge the few governments who now continue to block this process," he demanded.

Mr Blair replied: 'I can give you that assurance, yes."

He added: 'We have pushed this very hard for some considerable period of time. But as your question implies, it is not simply us. It's the whole of the international community that has got to agree it.

'But we do fully support it and will continue to encourage others to support it."

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