Public sees through Government propaganda on arms exports
Andrew Wood | 06.01.2005 17:55 | Anti-militarism
A new poll shows that a significant proportion of the public believes the political influence of arms companies is the main reason the government supports arms exports (22.8%), as opposed to Government stated reasons such as jobs, promoting security abroad and maintaining the UK’s own supplies. More than half of people polled (50.6%)are opposed to civil servents promoting arms exports in the Defence Export Services Organisation.
EMBARGO 00:01 Thursday 30 December 2004
PRESS RELEASE
Public sees through Government propaganda on arms exports
Government myths about arms exports were blown away in a new poll published today, Thursday 30 December 2004[1]. The poll shows that a significant proportion of the public believes the political influence of arms companies is the main reason the government supports arms exports (22.8%), as opposed to Government stated reasons such as jobs, promoting security abroad and maintaining the UK’s own supplies. The Government employs 600 civil servants in its Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) exclusively to promote arms companies exports [2]. More than half of people polled oppose this use of public resources (50.6%).
Beccie D’Cunha from Campaign Against Arms Trade said
“This poll shows that, like Campaign Against Arms Trade, the public believe that arms companies are calling the shots on arms export policy. It’s the political influence of the arms companies that is driving arms exports, and the public can see that. Public money should not be used to pay for the sales representatives of UK based arms companies, like BAE Systems, in the guise of civil servants. The public agrees that it’s time the civil servants in DESO did something else”
ENDS
CONTACT: Campaign Against Arms Trade: 020 7281 0297
Editors Notes
[1] The poll was conducted by Access Omnibus BMRB, using a telephone survey of 1,000 adults over 16 years of age in Britain. The survey was conducted between 17 and 19 December 2004.
Asked: People have given a number of reasons why the Government supports arms exports. Which of the following, if any, do you think is the main reason the Government supports arms exports? (choose one)
Result:
1) To contribute to the security of the UK's friends and allies overseas: 21.9%
2) To help maintain a strong UK arms industry: 15.7%
3) Because arms companies have a lot of political influence: 22.8%
4) For jobs and the economy: 23.8%
5) Other (specify): 7.7%
6) Don't know: 8.1%
Asked: The UK Government's Defence Export Services Organisation, DESO, employs 600 civil servants exclusively to promote UK arms exports. Do you support or oppose this? (choose one)
Result:
1) Support: 15.8%
2) Oppose: 50.6%
3) Neither support nor oppose: 25.2%
4) Don't know: 8.4%
[2] The Defence Export Services Organisation is part of the civil service (see their website at:
http://www.deso.mod.uk). It employ’s 600 civil servants, costs £16 million each year and it is headed by Alan Garwood, who is also Deputy Chief Executive at Matra BAe Dynamics. The company produces missiles and it is a third owned by the arms company BAE Systems Ltd. The Government’s stated reasons for arms exports
PRESS RELEASE
Public sees through Government propaganda on arms exports
Government myths about arms exports were blown away in a new poll published today, Thursday 30 December 2004[1]. The poll shows that a significant proportion of the public believes the political influence of arms companies is the main reason the government supports arms exports (22.8%), as opposed to Government stated reasons such as jobs, promoting security abroad and maintaining the UK’s own supplies. The Government employs 600 civil servants in its Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) exclusively to promote arms companies exports [2]. More than half of people polled oppose this use of public resources (50.6%).
Beccie D’Cunha from Campaign Against Arms Trade said
“This poll shows that, like Campaign Against Arms Trade, the public believe that arms companies are calling the shots on arms export policy. It’s the political influence of the arms companies that is driving arms exports, and the public can see that. Public money should not be used to pay for the sales representatives of UK based arms companies, like BAE Systems, in the guise of civil servants. The public agrees that it’s time the civil servants in DESO did something else”
ENDS
CONTACT: Campaign Against Arms Trade: 020 7281 0297
Editors Notes
[1] The poll was conducted by Access Omnibus BMRB, using a telephone survey of 1,000 adults over 16 years of age in Britain. The survey was conducted between 17 and 19 December 2004.
Asked: People have given a number of reasons why the Government supports arms exports. Which of the following, if any, do you think is the main reason the Government supports arms exports? (choose one)
Result:
1) To contribute to the security of the UK's friends and allies overseas: 21.9%
2) To help maintain a strong UK arms industry: 15.7%
3) Because arms companies have a lot of political influence: 22.8%
4) For jobs and the economy: 23.8%
5) Other (specify): 7.7%
6) Don't know: 8.1%
Asked: The UK Government's Defence Export Services Organisation, DESO, employs 600 civil servants exclusively to promote UK arms exports. Do you support or oppose this? (choose one)
Result:
1) Support: 15.8%
2) Oppose: 50.6%
3) Neither support nor oppose: 25.2%
4) Don't know: 8.4%
[2] The Defence Export Services Organisation is part of the civil service (see their website at:
http://www.deso.mod.uk). It employ’s 600 civil servants, costs £16 million each year and it is headed by Alan Garwood, who is also Deputy Chief Executive at Matra BAe Dynamics. The company produces missiles and it is a third owned by the arms company BAE Systems Ltd. The Government’s stated reasons for arms exports
Andrew Wood
e-mail:
press@caat.org.uk
Homepage:
http://www.caat.org.uk
Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
It doesn't say that...
07.01.2005 11:43
Paul Edwards
It doesn't say that...
07.01.2005 11:46
Paul Edwards
arms trade
07.01.2005 19:00
yes, some poor poll questions which don't help the anti arms-trade movement much at all. but your comments misrepresent the poll even further.
>>The results show broad support for Govt support of the industry based on contribution to the UK's security
no, the question says nothing about UK security. it's about "the security of the UK's friends and allies overseas".
'security' of course is an interesting concept when talking arms trade exports. were they feeling secure in East Timor a few years back as the BAe Hawk jets went on bombing runs?* there is a very long list of such examples.
>>maintaining a strong UK industry
no, it doesn't say that either. it says "a strong UK arms industry" which is not at all the same thing.
support for the arms trade comes from the Labour Party and the unions which put UK jobs before foreign lives. export costs - it's a well known capitalist tactic. the propaganda is that alternatives don't exist. have people seen through that? i think they have.
*eg
- -
Misunderstood
08.01.2005 14:48
Understood