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Car Manufacturing

Yes, it may be, but there are other options. The issue is about investment, as we have been trying to say all along. The answer is not to buy from Japan cars that are shipped around the world. Let us make that point clear. I hope that next time we have a debate, the Minister will hold up the keys and say, ““I now use a British-made car.”” The issue is about setting examples, and I know that the Minister listens, and that he will take that on board. Other countries, such as France and Germany, have a policy of ensuring that their Ministers travel in domestically built cars. We need a clear procurement policy that places the emphasis on best value for the service involved and for the whole UK car manufacturing sector, as opposed to a procurement policy that is based on taking what is cheapest. We are told that we buy many of the vehicles because they are the cheapest, but that does not mean that they are the best. As I stated at the beginning, the UK car manufacturing sector has an important role to play in our economy. With the necessary support and help from the Government with procurement, stronger employment laws, efforts to improve research and development, and investment in our car manufacturing and component sector, heavy vehicles and light commercial vehicles, we can ensure that we have a viable future based on a highly skilled, high-tech industry. There is a good picture to be painted, but it can soon be distorted and we can lose what we have. We need a Government who will champion our vehicle industry and ensure that we have a strong component sector to feed into vehicle manufacturing. To the Minister, I say please, whenever we procure, let us use the same rules that the French, Germans and Italians use. What good is a police car built in Japan or Germany? What example does that set? What good is a Highways Agency vehicle from Mitsubishi, riding around Solihull, the home of Land Rover? It is absolutely absurd. We cannot say that the decision is based on price, because part of the fleet is from Land Rover and the other part is from Mitsubishi and Nissan. It makes no sense. We need more common sense from the Government. The issue is about joined-up government fighting for our future and recognising our car industry, so I ask the Minister to take it on board and give us the good news that he is buying and driving British.