It is sad to see the lack of any alternative views in your report (Ship that launched 10,000 jobs, 17 August). The article accepts the claims of BAE Systems, the MoD and political parties and ignores economic and ethical objections to the arms industry. Public opinion is clear that it dislikes the arms industry and does not want the UK exporting arms to repressive regimes. The only argument left to the industry is that it provides valuable jobs and exports. Neither is true. The number of jobs in the arms sector has been falling for years, with only 55,000 jobs (0.2% of the workforce) dependent on arms exports, which make up just 1.2% of exports. BAE has cut over 9,000 jobs in one year. Recent research by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) reveals the arms industry receives �700m a year in public (ie taxpayer) subsidies.
Scotland's proud industrial heritage would be much better deployed in the renewable energy sector. Renewables use the same skill sets as arms and shipbuilding, in an expanding and beneficial industry. Demand for engineers is high in other areas of manufacturing.
As for the two aircraft carriers, they will not enter service for several years, cannot perform basic functions, and one will be immediately mothballed or sold. Originally estimated at �3bn, the costs are now �6.3bn and rising. David Cameron stated that cancellation would cost more than construction because of the "unbreakable contract" that the previous government had signed with BAE Systems. The Treasury select committee said that BAE "had effectively held a gun to the head of government". Such unethical behaviour should be no basis for either industrial or defence policies.
Kaye Stearman
Media co-ordinator, CAAT
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/22/arms-trade-subsidy-makes-no-sense
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