We spoke to Paul Ingram from the Oxford Research Group, a nuclear weapons and arms think tank. To see that interview click on the link on the top right hand side of the page.

He is against the arms trade, on economic arms. Paul Ingram agreed that the industry was large, but argued that more jobs would actually be created by scaling it down - because of the subsidies that arms exporters receive in various forms from government.

There would be more jobs created if we diverted the investment ...into other sectors of the economy Paul Ingram, Oxford Research Group

And Paul Ingrams believes that the protestors planning to disrupt today's arms fair will contribute to an eventual demise in the British arms trade.

We spoke to Dave Mulholland from Jane's Defence Weekly. To see that interview click on the link on the top right hand side of the page.<

He argued that military hardward does not cause conflicts and wars - they are merely the tools by which those wars are processed.

On the whole the militaries of the West have been more of a power for good than evil David Mulholland, Jane's Defence Weekly

And he pointed out that most of the UK arms trade are to countries such as the US, Germany and France, although Saudi Arabia is also a buyer.

But Western democracies are defended by their armies - and those armies also, mostly, do good when they go into action around the world.

This arms fair is a bringing together of companies and countries with terrible track records Campaign Against the Arms Trade

The policing bill would run to more than �1 million, said Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Andy Trotter.

"Our concern would be if the demonstration turns into riots or damage and we have got to be prepared to deal with that," he said.

More than 60 arrests of mainly protesters were made in the run-up to event.

The Royal Navy Frigate HMS Grafton is moored near the fair

Reporting for Breakfast, the BBC's defence Correspondent Paul Adams explained that the defence trade is worth �5bn per year to the UK and that we are second only to the US in terms of global trade.

To see that report, click on the link on the top right hand side of the page

The Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) said the group would attempt to disrupt the event in a number of ways, including holding a procession to the fair on Tuesday morning.

Some individuals were expected to try to gain access to the high-security event, a spokesman said, but the CAAT action would be non-violent.

"This arms fair is a bringing together of companies and countries with terrible track records," he said.

"First and foremost we hope we will get it cancelled, or create a public outcry big enough to make sure it doesn't happen again."

Arms 'create jobs'

A spokesman for organisers Defence Systems & Equipment International insisted the event, which is being opened by UK Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, was not an arms fair.

"This is an exhibition, mainly for contractors and sub-contractors. It's an industry-to-industry show," he said.

Every exhibitor signed a form saying it would not bring illegal weapons systems, and these were monitored by the MoD, he said.

About half the exhibitors are British firms, with 20% from the US and the remainder from other Nato countries.

A spokesman for the MoD's Defence Export Services Organisation said: "We have strict export licence criteria and going to the exhibition in no way implies that you can buy the equipment.

"Defence brings �5 billion a year to the UK and benefits between 70,000 and 100,000 jobs."

So what do you think?

Does the arms fair represent the best of British business or an ethical minefield?

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK

To have your say, e-mail us at breakfasttv@bbc.co.uk