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Geoff Hoon was Labour’s defence secretary in 2005. Defence giants Westland got a £1.7 billion contract from the Ministry of Defence in March of that year.

The government hands £56 million worth of contracts to private companies every day. It has given almost 3,000 contracts to firms since the beginning of the year.

‘We are sleepwalking towards an avoidable age of crisis’ Barbara Stocking, head of the charity Oxfam, predicts that food prices could more than double in 20 years

Postal workers in London were waiting to find out when they will strike against job losses as Socialist Worker went to press.

•Delegates at last week’s CWU union conference passed a motion against police tactics on recent demonstrations.

RMT transport union members on the Heathrow Express struck solidly on Friday and Saturday of last week over pay.

A Nato air attack wreaked carnage on two extended families in Afghanistan’s Helmand province last week.

Call centre workers in Jobcentre Plus are set to take further strikes over working conditions after an important union meeting last week.

Some 40 traffic wardens, maintenance engineers and cash collectors will strike for seven days in Southampton.

Opposition to Egypt’s ruling military council (Scaf) is growing following revelations of widespread torture of activists seized by military police and huge demonstrations on Friday of last week.