UK - Government announces closure of arms marketing unit after public campaign

Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) has welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement that the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) is to be shut down. The news follows a high-profile campaign by CAAT and other groups for the closure of DESO, a Government unit whose purpose is to promote sales for private arms companies, despite being funded with taxpayers' money. CAAT hopes that with the closure of DESO, the undemocratic power of arms companies in the UK will be brought to an end.

Whilst applauding the announcement, CAAT made clear that it would closely monitor the implementation of the plans. CAAT insisted that military exports, which form less than 2% of total UK exports, must not use a disproportionate amount of the resources of UK Trade and Investment, which is now taking responsibility for them.