§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many companies which have expressed interest in the dockyard franchise are foreign-owned.
§ Mr. LeeI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 March 1985 at column412, which applies to all those firms who have expressed interest.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Defence if his invitation to private companies to tender for the royal dockyard franchise will precede the passage of legislation on the dockyards.
§ Mr. LeeOn present plans the Ministry hopes to be in a position to invite companies to tender for the operation of the royal dockyards by the spring of next year. This will depend on progress in a number of areas, including the stage reached on the necessary legislation. There would be no question of the Ministry entering into any contractual commitments for the commercial management of the dockyards until Royal Assent has been obtained.