PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has quizzed embattled Marks and Spencers chief executive Sir Richard Greenbury on the future of Britain's textile and clothing industries.

The boss of the troubled retail giant - whose future is in question following a massive slump in profits, met the secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Textiles, Clothing and Footwear Group in the Commons. Mr Prentice said: "M and S is hugely influential andI would like to see the firm get back to its long-established policy of buying British wherever possible."

He urged the case with Sir Richard, pointing out that textile workers from his constituency came to Westminster last November to press the cause of boosting the British textile industry which employs 370,000 workers and is worth £17 billion per year.

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