New Parliamentary group to champion carpet industry (From Kidderminster Shuttle)
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New Parliamentary group to champion carpet industry
7:40am Thursday 21st March 2013 in News
WYRE Forest’s MP Mark Garnier has launched a new group dedicated to championing the cause of the carpet industry in Westminster.
It has been established as an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).
The APPG for the British Carpet Industry will aim to promote the interests of the carpet industry in Parliament, responding to issues on behalf of the industry and aiming to ensure the industry has a loud and clear voice in Parliament.
The first job being undertaken by the group is to establish the relevance of the industry in terms of its importance to the UK economy. That will include analysis of its strengths and weakness, opportunities and threats, focusing on issues unique to the industry.
The group will be supported by the Kidderminster-based Carpet Foundation.
Conservative Mr Garnier, the group’s first chairman, said: “If there is an MP who represents the carpet industry, it has to be the MP representing Kidderminster yet this is the first time any Wyre Forest MP has established this important group.
“The carpet industry, once a crucial part of our district’s economy, is smaller than it was but this makes it even more important to establish a group to champion the interests of this nationwide industry.
“Seventy per cent of British wool finds its way into a British-made carpet and British carpets are found all across the world where excellence and durability is needed. I look forward to making sure this group has the critical mass to make a difference to our carpet industry.”
Andrew Stanbridge of the Carpet Foundation said: “The APPG has the support of both the carpet industry and the Carpet Foundation.
“We are delighted to be able to support the group in any way we can and look forward to working with our supportive MPs and peers in the future. This is a very welcome initiative.”
Comments(3)
Grumpy Old Blogger
says...
11:57am Thu 21 Mar 13
Red Flag Dan
says...
12:53pm Thu 21 Mar 13
It might be work talking to MPs from North Staffordshire about what they have done in order to try and keep ceramic industry jobs in their area. Ceramic firms are now returning manufacturing jobs back to the potteries from overseas.
It would be great if the same could be done for the carpet industry.
For many years the UK Government has opposed EU proposals to introduce a mark of origin on goods manufactuered outside the EU region. The proposals apply to a range of goods, including ceramics and textiles.
Kidderminster carpets can not be beaten for quality. Yet firms such as Brintons are producing more and more carpet outside the EU. Many people choose a Brintons carpet because they believe they are buying a quality product manufactured in the UK. Sadly - this is not the case.
I urge the APPG to make the case for origin marking with the government. It would inform consumers and might just see carpet jobs coming back into the town.
Grumpy Old Blogger says...
11:54am Thu 21 Mar 13
Very interesting! I never knew that there was a carpet industry in Westminster!
We usually expect better writing from 'The Shuttle'. Better to have written WYRE Forest’s MP Mark Garnier has launched a new group in Westminster dedicated to championing the cause of the carpet industry in Kidderminster.