The Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland has launched a dialogue programme for local churches to raise the moral issues of the arms trade with local Members of Parliament. The programme, entitled, Countering the Arms Trade - Churches Count the Cost - will run from Ash Wednesday (21 February) until Pentecost (26 May).

The issues that are to be raised include:

• The need for much stricter conditions for arms exports especially in view of the abuse of human rights in many countries.
• The need for more openness and public accountability in arms transfers.
• The role of the Government in promoting arms exports.
• the possibility of conversion of arms-related industries to civilian manufactures.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative, the Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Revd Simon Barrington-Ward, said: "We must create a society in which we reduce our whole dependency on arms sales. The arms trade distorts our economy our trade and our behaviour."

John Battle, a Member of Parliament who supports the programme, said: "Most Third World debts are for export credit guarantees for arms. The arms trade is a major contributor to poverty in the Third World. We need to convert from the arms trade to other manufacturing industries. I do not accept the argument that it is war work or no work."