§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to protect the jobs of those currently employed in the Kvaerner group in Scotland. [81015]
§ Mr. MacdonaldA Task Force has been established to identify potential purchasers of the shipyard at Govan, the engineering works at Clydebank and any other Scottish business affected by the Kvaerner announcement and to report its findings to the Scottish Office.
Sir Gavin Laird is chairing the Task Force. Other members are Mr. David Smith, former Commercial Director of the Govan shipyard, Mr. Malcolm Clark, former President of Keystone International in the USA, and Mr. Bill Scott, former Director of Ferguson Shipbuilders Ltd. The work of the Task Force will be given the full support of the Scottish Office and it will be able to call on whatever additional and specialist support it requires. Kvaerner has given a commitment to give the Task Force its wholehearted support.