Safeguard Co-Operative (Birmingham) Limited

EDM number 1658 in 1993-94, proposed by Estelle Morris on 26/10/1994.

That this House expresses its concern at the decision of British Telecom to exclude Safeguard Co-operative (Birmingham) Ltd. from tendering for cleaning contracts solely on the basis that the company was too small; recognises that this unique co-operative was formed by British Telecom cleaners made redundant as a result of British Telecom privatisation; notes that over the years the co-operative has successfully tendered for and won cleaning contracts in an open tendering basis in competition with major contract cleaning companies; further notes that during the years the Co-operative has undertaken cleaning contracts for British Telecom at no stage has there been any criticism of the standard and quality of work; recognises that as the Co-operative cleans exclusively for British Telecom then their decision will mean the closure of the Co-operative and the loss of 76 jobs; and therefore calls upon British Telecom to review its tendering procedures in the interests of Britain's small businesses. (Relevant registered interest declared).

This motion has been signed by a total of 30 MPs.