TRADE UNION RECOGNITION IN QINETIQ

That this House notes with concern that defence contractor QinetiQ has informed trade unions it is formally terminating trade union recognition and collective agreements with effect from the end of March 2012 with Prospect, Unite, PCS and GMB; further notes previous comments by QinetiQ's chief executive officer that unions have played a `crucial role' in negotiating and representing employees to reach `equitable solutions for all'; further notes that QinetiQ receives an annual income of around 500 million from contracts with the Ministry of Defence; and calls on the Secretary of State for Defence to meet, as a matter of urgency, unions involved with the aim of ensuring QinetiQ continues to recognise the trade unions and maintains collective bargaining.