ARMY UNIFORMS CUT AND SEW CONTRACT

That this House notes that the cut and sew contract for UK army uniforms is due for renewal in 2008; recognises that the contract was originally awarded to Coonen, Watts and Stone based in Northern Ireland, who sub-contracted the work to China; believes it to be inappropriate for UK army uniforms to be produced in sweat-shop conditions in China; looks forward to the contract being re-opened for tender; and calls on the Government to support UK manufacturing by awarding the contract to the most competitive tender for the production of the uniforms in the United Kingdom.