CONTRACT FOR WHEELED TANKERS

Early day motion 564, tabled 23 January 2003 by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative). Signed by 5 members.

That this House notes with regret the decision of the Ministry of Defence to award a contract for the supply of wheeled tankers for the British armed forces to an American firm, the Oshkosh Truck Corporation, in preference to a vehicle manufactured by a consortium of over 30 British companies; believes that the British-designed tanker is superior in every key technical respect to the one chosen by the Ministry of Defence; further believes that the decision to choose an American designed tanker, partially assembled in the United Kingdom, in preference to technology developed in the UK, runs completely contrary to the Government's stated aim of promoting high value export sales and high quality jobs in the defence manufacturing sector; considers this decision to be the wrong one for Britain's army and economy; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Defence to investigate this contract award.

Signatures by party: Conservative 3, Labour 2.