UK Working Group on Arms - 2002 Opinion Poll

The survey, commissioned by The UK Working Group on Arms (UKWG) whose members are Amnesty International UK, BASIC, Christian Aid, International Alert, Oxfam GB and Saferworld, was carried out by Taylor Nelson Sofres during March 2002.

1. How much do you approve or disapprove of the government selling arms to governments which abuse human rights?

Approve strongly: 1%
Approve slightly: 2%
Disapprove slightly: 11%
Disapprove strongly: 74%
Neither approve nor disapprove: 12%
Don't know:1%

2. Do you think the government, since coming to power, has done enough to stop the sale of arms to governments which abuse human rights?

Yes: 9%
No: 82%
Don't know:9%

3. How much do you agree or disagree that...There is too much secrecy surrounding UK arms exports?

Agree strongly: 60%
Agree slightly: 18%
Disagree slightly: 4%
Disagree strongly: 4%
Neither agree nor disagree: 12%
Don't know:3%

4. How much do you agree or disagree that... The government should give MPs the power to advise it on arms sales to sensitive regions before the weapons are exported?

Agree strongly: 40%
Agree slightly: 24%
Disagree slightly: 8%
Disagree strongly: 9%
Neither agree nor disagree: 15%
Don't know:3%

5. How much do you agree or disagree that... The government should honour its election manifesto commitment to control UK arms dealers wherever they are located, both in UK and overseas?

Agree strongly: 63%
Agree slightly: 17%
Disagree slightly: 4%
Disagree strongly: 2%
Neither agree nor disagree: 11%
Don't know:2%

6. How much do you agree or disagree that... Given the current regional instability between India and Pakistan, government ministers should not be visiting India to encourage the Indian government to spend £1 billion on buying British fighter planes?

Agree strongly: 36%
Agree slightly: 12%
Disagree slightly: 13%
Disagree strongly: 17%
Neither agree nor disagree: 20%
Don't know:3%

7. How much do you agree or disagree that... The UK government should promote international controls on arms sales as part of its overseas work?

Agree strongly: 48%
Agree slightly: 21%
Disagree slightly: 7%
Disagree strongly: 9%
Neither agree nor disagree: 12%
Don't know:2%

1023 adults aged 16+ were interviewed
Interviewing was conducted by telephone between 5 & 7 March 2002
The sample was weighted to represent the adult population of Great Britain aged 16+

CAAT survey, 2003
MoD survey, 1998