HC Deb 18 April 1985 vol 77 cc246-7W
Mr. John Mark Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans he now has to privatise Unipart;

(2) what proportion of the custom of Unipart is with companies other than Austin Rover;

(3) if, in considering whether to privatise Unipart, he has taken account of the in-house parts operations of Austin Rover's main competitors;

(4) what account he has taken, in his consideration of the possibility of privatising Unipart, of the effect of such privatisation on the financial position of Austin Rover.

Mr. Butcher

It is the shared objective of the BL Board and the Government to return the company and its constituent businesses, either together or separately, to the private sector as soon as is practical. Announcements as to how this will be achieved for particular businesses will be made in due course. In considering any proposals relating to the privatisation of Unipart the Government will naturaly take account of the issues identified by my hon. Friend.