Call to end arms export subsidy

London - The Government faced calls yesterday to phase out the taxpayer's multi-million pound support for defence exports. Britain should also lead an international drive to end similar support in other countries for their defence industries, the Liberal Democrat, Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham), argued, opening a short debate in the Commons parallel chamber in Westminster Hall. It cost the taxpayer an estimated £240 million a year to subsidise arms sales overseas through the Government's Export Credit Guarantee Department (ECGD), he said.