The United Nations has been holding a series of meetings focused on securing global agreement on an effective Arms Trade Treaty.

Yesterday I signed an international declaration which will be handed to the final meeting.

It's time for a treaty that will prevent irresponsible and illicit arms trading between countries.

As the declaration itself says, a robust Arms Trade Treaty will greatly reduce the needless and massive loss of human life and livelihoods.

Here in Parliament, I have been campaigning for an end to arms subsidies, and for the UK to exercise far greater responsibility when selling arms overseas.

In Foreign Office questions this week, I also asked especially about the UK's weapons sales to Afghanistan.

I am deeply concerned about this trade, and whether there is sufficient monitoring of the increasing number of weapons that are being granted licences for export by the Government to what remains an unstable and corrupt country.