BNFL (Hansard, 20 July 1999)

§ Mr. Gibb
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the stockbrokers consulted by KPMG as part of their work preparing the report into the Public Private Partnership Options for BNFL. [92059]

§ Mr. Battle
In carrying out their work, KPMG relied on views expressed in confidence by four leading stockbrokers in the belief that those views would remain private to Government. It would be a breach of that confidence to identify them now.

§ Mr. Gibb
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will publish in full the KPMG report into the Public Private Partnership Options for BNFL. [92056]

§ Mr. Battle
A summary of KPMG's report containing all its key points has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The full report constitutes advice to Ministers and contains commercially sensitive information, so it will not be published.

§ Mr. Gibb
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the reasons for selling a minority stake in BNFL, rather than a majority stake. [92057]

§ Mr. Battle
The Atomic Energy Act 1971, which set up BNFL, provides for the sale of up to 49 per cent. of the business. This would enable a Public Private Partnership to be introduced into the company, thereby bringing private sector skills and capital to bear on its commercial decisions.