ARGOS LTD

That this House notes recent unfair criticism of Argos; believes that Argos is a great British company employing over 33,000 people and contributing 4.3 billion in sales to the UK economy, including two major sites in Harlow; welcomes the fact that Argos funds the Teenage Cancer Trust, which helps the NHS to provide vital treatment to all teenagers suffering from cancer; further notes that Argos has over 700 stores, serving over 130 million customers a year, with another 20 stores opening in 2011 (creating many hundreds ofnew jobs); and further notes that 18 million UK households, or around two thirds of the population have an Argos catalogue at home at any one time.