MECHANISED INFANTRY VEHICLE PROGRAMME

That this House recognises the investment by companies in the Armoured Fighting Vehicle industry in the UK; welcomes the commitment by these companies in building facilities and developing the skills required to maintain this industry in the UK; further recognises that wages in this UK industry are significantly higher than the national average; notes the recent Ministry of Defence Armoured Fighting Vehicle contract awards to companies overseas without competition; and urges the Ministry of Defence to ensure all future Armoured Fighting Vehicle programmes are openly competed at the Prime Contract level, including the important multibillion pound Mechanised Infantry Vehicle programme for the Army's new wheeled vehicle fleet, to support this resurgent British industry and provide highly skilled jobs in less economically advantaged areas of the UK.