A DEMONSTRATION is due to take place outside Scottish Enterprise’s office by critics of the arms trade who are opposed to taxpayers’ money being given to defence firms.

A coalition of peace groups including Campaign Against Arms Trade, CND Scotland and the University of Glasgow Divestment Committee, plan to protest in Glasgow tomorrow over grants being awarded to arms multinationals such as Raytheon, Leonardo and Lockheed Martin, among others.

Defence firms employ thousands of people across Scotland and generate hundreds of millions of pounds for the economy, but critics say they arm some of the “most brutal and authoritarian regimes in the world”.

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Scottish Enterprise has repeatedly insisted that it does not fund the manufacture of munitions and its focus is on helping firms to diversify production.

The picket has been organised by the Scottish Peace Network. Its chair, Eric Chester, said: “These companies have armed and supported some of the most brutal and authoritarian regimes in the world. The weapons they produce have been used to commit terrible atrocities and abuses.

“Many of these companies have fuelled and profited from the appalling Saudi-led bombardment of Yemen, which has created the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.”

They have sent letters to Scottish Enterprise, highlighting its funding for firms which provided arms for the Saudi-led bombing of Yemen, as well as a letter to First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, urging her to end such funding.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said it does not provide funding for the manufacture of munitions – “either directly or via Scottish Enterprise”. They added that the support it provided “is focused on helping firms to diversify and develop non-military applications for their technology” and ensure Scotland continues to benefit from the thousands of jobs created.

Arms multinationals with factories in Scotland awarded grants by Scottish Enterprise include Leonardo S.p.A., which absorbed Selex in 2016 and employs almost 2000 people at Crewe Toll, Edinburgh.

Leonardo S.p.A. is the ninth largest arms firm in the world with profits of £440m in 2018. It has received £13,810,225 from Scottish Enterprise since 2007.

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The Italian arms giant has produced laser targeting systems for F16 fighter jets which have been used by Turkey against Kurds in Syria.

Raytheon has received more than £200,000. Its factory in Glenrothes produces key components for the Paveway IV bomb, which has been used by Saudi forces in Yemen and linked to attacks on civilian targets.

BAE Systems has received £616,748 from Scottish Enterprise since 2007.

US arms firm Lockheed Martin – the world’s largest arms company – has received £176,615 for “business improvement”, “innovation” “marketing” and “organisational development”.

The Sunday National can also reveal that over the past year, £5,129,571 was given to Leonardo, £302,225 to BAE Systems, and £760,000 to Thales UK.

Scottish Enterprise said the grant to Leonardo was to “support for diversification purposes including the development of products for homeland security, blue-light and civilian markets”.

The grant to Thales UK was to support the development of two new products for the “defence and civilian surveillance and security markets”. The grant to BAE Systems was a training grant for ship building skills on the Clyde.

Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer said: “Why is a government agency handing not just cash but also free business support services to Saudi Arabia’s arms dealers? That regime bombs funerals, hospitals and school buses full of children in Yemen.”