Parliamentary Pressure
Whilst the UKTI Board control the levels of, and therefore cut-backs in, support for arms exports - their actions need Ministerial sign-off. Making it vitally important that parliamentarians and Ministers are aware of the arguments against the special treatment UKTI is giving to arms sales, and the strength of public opposition to such activity. At the same time, any reduction in UKTI support for arms exports will be opposed by an arms industry keen to defend its vested interests, and thus parliamentary support and pressure is key to inducing a reduction in support.
Write to your MP expressing your concerns about UKTI's new role in arms sales, and asking that they raise them with the Minister of State for Trade &Industry. This allows us to raise awareness among parliamentarians as well as getting the attention of the Minister - who is obliged to reply to letters passed on by MPs. A new Minister for Trade &Industry, Mervyn Davies MP, was appointed in 2009 to replace Gareth Thomas.
Find out who your MP is:
Call the House of Commons on 020 7219 3000,
Go online to http://www.theyworkforyou.com/.
Write to your MP
House of Commons,
Westminster,
London,
SW1A 0AA
Find ideas on some key points you might like to make in your letter here. While a letter in your own words will have the most impact, any contact from a constituent will be noticed by an MP, so for those with only a couple of minutes to spare, we've also created a model letter, ready to sign and send.
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