Photo-call: A Tony Blair look-a-like will deliver a giant cheque for £888 million, representing the export subsidies given to UK arms companies, at 11 am on Monday 19 July 2004 at the pedestrian entrance to Farnborough Airfield in Hampshire (Gate B
– or Dairy Gate
between Pinehurst Roundabout and Queen’s Roundabout on the A325 in Farnborough opposite where A325 and Guilford Rd. West intersect). The cheque is about 5 ft by 10 ft and requires several people to carry it. Over 30 demonstrators with placards and leaflets are expected to assemble.
HAMPSHIRE (ENGLAND), At 11 am on Monday 19 July 2004, supporters of Campaign Against Arms Trade will hold a peaceful demonstration at Farnborough International 2004 in Hampshire, where this year’s most important UK arms fair is taking place. The demonstration is outside the pedestrian entrance to Farnborough Airfield (Gate B
– or Dairy Gate
between the Pinehurst Roundabout and Queen’s Roundabout on the A325 in Farnborough opposite where A325 and Guilford Rd. West intersect). Banners, placards and a giant cheque, representing UK arms export subsidies will be held aloft while leaflets are given to arms fair visitors.
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Arms Trade, Andrew Wood, said
Selling arms abroad costs the taxpayer about £888 million every year. That’s £888 million of corporate welfare to arms companies, or about £13,000 for each job in arms exports every year. This corporate welfare could be better spent on non military products and services, so reducing weapons proliferation and increasing peace and security – both at home and abroad.
“It’s not just the cost of arms subsidies that is of concern but the insidious form they take. There are 600 civil servants in the Government’s Defence Export Services Organisation. We have the sales force of private companies, arms companies, not only paid for by taxpayers but actually employed under the guise of the civil service. If we’re to have a healthy democracy and fair governance then it’s time the arms industry was disentangled from Government and these subsidies stopped.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
CAAT Office: 020 7281 0297, onsite Mobile (19 July only): 07903 648 034
Notes
Arms export subsidies of about £888 million ever year pay for:
| Subsidy or Saving | Cost (£m) |
|---|---|
| Marketing and Promotion: Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO); use of Arms Forces, Embassies and Defence Attachés, Official Visits; Defence Assistance Fund (Grants); UK Trade and Investment (Govt. Agency) |
58 |
| Direct Distortion of Ministry of Defence Procurement Choices | 100 |
| Export Credits Guarantee Department (cheaper insurance) | 180 |
| Research & Development, incl. Missile Defence Centre | 675 |
| Overheads (longer production runs, lower unit costs) | -125 |
| Total | 888 |
The Defence Export Services Organisation, mentioned above, is a Government Department that employs about 600 civil servants. The Export Credits Guarantee Department is also part of the civil service. About half it’s work is on providing guarantees for arms export.
For further information contact Campaign Against Arms Trade office: 020 7281 0297 or see the CAAT website. A briefing about Farnborough International 2004 and subsidies is available on request.
