BUDGET FOR PEACE BUILDING

Early day motion 1094, tabled 29 April 2004 by Llew Smith (Labour). Signed by 39 members.

That this House welcomes the Global Conflict Prevention Pool as an initiative, the aims of which include reducing the number of people around the world whose lives are affected by violent conflict and, ultimately, of cutting the number of conflicts that occur; notes that there is great potential for development of this cross-departmental approach and urges the highest priority for non-military solutions to conflicts that could become violent in line with the UK's responsibilities under Article 1 of the United Nations Charter; is convinced that preventing conflict is more cost-effective than resolving it, especially by military intervention, and that non-military approaches, including reduction of poverty, are effective ways to eliminate the causes of terrorism; recalls that Martin Luther King said that 'True peace is not the absence of war; it is the presence of justice, equity and a non-violent social order'; calls therefore for the Joint Pools budget for 2004-05 to be at least double that for 2003-04, namely to ú250 million, less than 1 per cent. of the total Ministry of Defence budget, to build upon the successes in this area alongside an increased emphasis on peace; and calls for the appointment of a minister dedicated to ensure focus and accountability for building peace.

Signatures by party: Labour 22, Liberal Democrat 10, Labour/Co-operative 4, Plaid Cymru 3.