§ Lord Carmichael of KelvingroveMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any decision has been made concerning the future of Sealink.
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, the British Railways Board are currently discussing the sale of Sealink with a number of potential purchasers and hope formally to invite bids soon.
§ Lord Carmichael of KelvingroveMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Is he aware that there is a feeling of great uncertainty and concern among employees of British Rail as to their future? There is obviously concern about their own jobs. They are concerned that if Sealink is sold there should be a guarantee that it will be sold as a single package and that after it has been sold, even as a single package, it will not be broken up. Can the Minister assure the House that the existing services will be more or less protected? Finally, can he give any indication as to how the container traffic is improving—because that was one of the sticking points—particularly in respect of the Holyhead—Dún Laoghaire service?
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, so far as the noble Lord's first two supplementary questions are concerned, I gave his noble friend answers to precisely those two questions on 3rd April, and those answers remain exactly the same. So far as the container traffic is concerned, that is progressing well.
§ Lord Harmar-NichollsMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that the questions just put to him from the Opposition Benches suggest that when the sale goes forward there should be all kinds of conditions? If there are, that will affect the price. If, as a result of all kinds of conditions being imposed, the price is much lower than that which the Opposition considers to be right, than the Government will be attacked for selling Sealink below its real value. There have been such attacks on so many other occasions. Sealink ought to be put on sale on merit and without a lot of unnecessary conditions surrounding its sale, which would be bound to affect the price.
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, I agree with my noble friend that British Rail are Offering Sealink for sale as an entity, as a complete company.