§ Mr. MilliganTo ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority has produced a second response to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on the service provided by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarI have today placed in the Library of the House the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's—AEA—second response to the report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission—MMC—which was published in May 1992.
I am pleased that the AEA has now implemented the great majority of the MMC's recommendations. This should lead to sustained improvements in efficiency.
Of the recommendations the M MC made to the Government, recommendation 3—board bonus scheme—was taken into account when the scheme for 1993–94 was drawn up; recommendation 9—return on capital employed—and 33—restructuring—will be taken into account at the appropriate time. I also announced on 1 April, Official Report, column 407, in line with the MMC's recommendation (1) that there should be a further review of strategic options for the AEA, that independent consultants were being appointed to consider the practicality of privatisation and the main options. We will continue to monitor the AEA's progress in implementing the recommendations and I will report further progress to the House in due course.