HL Deb 14 July 1987 vol 488 cc928-30

3.1 p.m.

Lord Dean of Beswick

My 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 they will place in the Library copies of the studies by Coopers and Lybrand/Samuel Montagu on the feasibility of the privatisation of the Crown Suppliers.

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, the report on these studies was prepared for internal use and is currently under consideration.

Lord Dean of Beswick

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. Is he aware that this report is the latest in a series of reports relating to this subject? Is the Minister also aware that the staff are greatly concerned that information regarding their future is not being made available to them? I therefore ask the Minister whether he will urge the Secretary of State in another place to accept that this is a matter of urgency. Will he ensure that the fullest information regarding this report is made available to the staff as quickly as possible? Finally, may I say that if there are any proposals on this matter—

Noble Lords

No!; Question!;

Lord Dean of Beswick

My Lords, may I impress on the Government—

Noble Lords

No!;

Lord Dean of Beswick

My Lords, perhaps I may ask the Minister whether the Government will take on board the fact that the employees involved are deeply concerned as to whether there will be any guarantees regarding their pension rights in the future.

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, first, no decision has yet been taken. This is only one of the options. However, my right honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State is considering the result of the studies.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, does the Minister recall that over the past three years successive reports—the Barrow Report, the Cup Report and the Turton Report—have all declined to come up with the answer the Ministers were hoping for? Indeed, in the Turton Report of 1985 it was reported that the Crown Suppliers were an example of value for money and that privatisation would not be in the overall public interest. Why do the Government persist in spending good public money, now more than £150,000, in searching for a recommendation the independent consultants refuse to give?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, the purpose of a report is to discover, and not to provide a hoped-for answer.

Baroness David

My Lords, would the Minister agree that there have been a number of reports over the past few years, and that it would appear that none of them recommends privatisation so far as we can make out? The employees are anxious to know what is going to happen. Industrial relations will not be very good in the light of this constant anxiety and doubt as to what the future will be.

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, I must first repeat that no decision has been taken. If such a decision were taken, my right honourable friend would fulfil his commitment to meet the departmental trade unions before making any decision.

Lord Dean of Beswick

My Lords, I am reluctant to come back to the Minister; but is he aware that these reports date back three years, and that three years is a long while to hold loyal employees in suspense as to their future? That is why I am asking whether the Minister will impress on his colleague in another place the urgency of the matter as they are dealing with loyal workers who are very worried indeed about their future.

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, I shall certainly pass on the message of the noble Lord, Lord Dean of Beswick.