HC Deb 05 November 1996 vol 284 cc463-4W
Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what conditions designed to guarantee the(a) quality, (b) impartiality, (c) independence and (d) integrity of the work of the Building Research Establishment will be imposed on organisations submitting a bid to purchase the Building Research Establishment. [2250]

Mr. Robert B. Jones

We will require prospective purchasers to demonstrate that BRE would under their ownership remain capable of providing the Government with high-quality, independent and impartial research and development and advice across a broad range of building and construction disciplines. BRE's reputation for integrity derives in large part from its staff, who will transfer with the business.

Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) on what criteria he reached his conclusion that the construction industry's proposals for a national centre for construction did not provide a satisfactory basis for the future of the Building Research Establishment; [2252]

(2) in what respects the proposal from the construction industry for the establishment of a national centre for construction failed to meet the criteria he laid down. [2253]

Mr. Jones

The decision we had to take was whether the proposals put forward on behalf of the construction industry—the package of proposals, including the national centre for construction, the arrangements for BRE within the national centre and the Construction Industry Council's indicative offer—offered a basis on which to take forward single tender sale negotiations that would demonstrably result in the best arrangements for the taxpayer. We did not feel that the package as a whole did that.

Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what factors led him to select February 1997 as the target date for the privatisation of the Building Research Establishment.[2251]

Mr. Jones

It is important for both its staff and its customers that the uncertainty about future ownership of BRE should be ended as soon as practicable. February 1997 is the earliest practicable date for completing the transfer of BRE to the private sector.