UK PASSPORTS CONTRACT

That this House recognises that not awarding the passports contract to De La Rue puts high-skilled jobs in the North East at risk, damages the reputation of British business and reduces our standing in Europe and the world; calls on the Home Secretary to urgently review the procurement process that led to this decision; notes the importance of UK passports to our security; is concerned that awarding the contract to Franco-Dutch owned company Gemalto puts that security at risk; and urges the Government to reconsider this perverse decision to produce British passports in Europe and to take into consideration the livelihoods that may be lost by going forward with this damaging proposal.