London: Responding to trade unions' demand for an investigation into the implications of "off-shoring" and flight of British jobs to countries like India, British Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt has announced an independent inquiry into the competitiveness of the UK industry.

Hewitt announced the commissioning of the inquiry in a speech at a call centre in Bristol, in which she echoed Prime Minister Tony Blair's comments about Norwich Union's move earlier in the week.

Blair had said there is no point in being protectionist and that the British call centre industry is already larger than anywhere else in Europe. Firms such as Carphone Warehouse and 3 are still coming here, he said.

Hewitt pointed out that Britain's exporters are enjoying big benefits from the prosperity off-shoring brings to less developed countries, with India alone accounting for 2.5 billion Pounds of UK exports. "As India grows, so will this trade."

Last week, Norwich Union revealed plans to cut 2,350 British jobs and export work to India. The next day, a Cardiff- based call centre was told its National Rail Inquiries contract would not be renewed.

PTI