UK MANUFACTURING

That this House recognises the Government's remarkable record of success in maintaining a strong economy and high levels of employment since 1997; but further recognises that manufacturing has experienced severe problems which have led to the loss of one million jobs; notes that both the Warwick Agreement and the 2005 Labour manifesto committed the Government to the active support of manufacturing and that the latter said that `successful manufacturing industries are vital to our future prosperity'; therefore calls on the Government to develop a robust and effective manufacturing strategy which would create a level playing field with other European countries; and further calls for a programme of public procurement which would seek to underpin UK manufacturing industry, again in line with both Warwick and the Labour manifesto, and for the introduction of the right of employees to be better consulted before companies make decisions which would affect their future employment.