Manufacturers should not be able to dictate how their trademarked goods are imported into Europe, the government believes. Giving evidence to the trade and industry select committee on “grey imports”, Kim Howells, consumer affairs minister, said it was “almost impossible to justify to consumers the differences in prices between the UK and abroad”.

Tony Purton airs his doubts about how successful the MoD's partnering drive will be

Q: I know quite a lot about outsourcing, but someone has suggested my company considers forming a joint venture as a solution to one of our current projects. What are the pros and cons of joint ventures (JVs)?

Manufacturers are set to complain to energy regulator Ofgem over the rapid increase in British gas prices. Companies in the chemicals, steel, paper and cement sectors claim the increase will push up the prices of their goods and make it harder to compete with their continental rivals.