INTERNATIONAL ARMS TRADE TREATY (No. 2)

That this House welcomes the decision of the United Nations to begin negotiations towards a new International Arms Trade Treaty to create international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional weapons; recognises the contribution such a mechanism would bring to developing countries currently devastated by the trade in small arms and light weapons; expresses concern at the opposition of the USA and the abstaining votes of Russia and China, as major arms manufacturers, to creating an international instrument; refutes the suggestion of the USA that existing mechanisms are sufficient for the control of the arms trade; acknowledges that this is only the beginning of a lengthy process; and urges the Government to use its influence to persuade the USA, Russia and China to support an Arms Trade Treaty.