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