Rt Hon Dr Vincent Cable MP
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, and Skills
1 Victoria Street
LONDON
SW1H 0ET

17 November 2010

Dear Vince,

Arms Trade Promotion

A number of my constituents have written to me after reading the recent report from Campaign Against the Arms Trade which makes the case for the closure of the UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO). My constituents strongly agree with the report's conclusion that the UK's active promotion of arms trading through the UKTI DSO should end.

I would like to add my own voice to those calling on the Government to end its promotion of arms sales from the UK. Arms trading has a devastating impact on the millions of people who are subject to the repressive and violent regimes to whom, the report shows, the UKTI DSO facilitates arms deals. Given the unreliability of such regimes these sales also threaten the security of UK interests both at home and abroad.

The negative impacts of the arms trade are obvious. Despite this, Government support to the arms industry is both disproportionate and expensive. Whilst the industry makes up only 1.5% of total UK exports, UK Trade and Investment dedicates 180 staff to promoting arms sales, compared to only 142 staff working for all other sectors. Even if the lower end of estimated subsidies of between £500m and £1bn to the UK arms trade is accepted, it would mean that each UK arms export job is support by £9,000 of Government money each year.

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Lucas, MP, Brighton Pavilion

Read the Department's reply (in two parts: 1 2 )