§ Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) whether the details of the recent transaction between BL and Mr. J. D. Abell include stock option arrangements and the proportion of equity reserved by Mr. Abell;
(2) what assets and industrial property rights have been acquired from BL by Mr. J. D. Abell, formerly of BL;
(3) whether the purchase cost of the recent transaction between BL and Mr. J. D. Abell was independently assessed; and on what what earnings ratio the assets and industrial property rights were valued;
(4) what element of goodwill was paid by Mr. J. D. Abell over net asset value in the recent transaction between BL and Mr. Abell.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallThe purchase price of Prestcold was arrived at on the basis of advice to BL from its merchant bankers. Other details of the arrangements between Mr. Abell and BL are commercially confidential.