§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for the privatisation of QinetiQ. [57336]
475W
§ Dr. MoonieI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 March 2002,Official Report, column 314W, about the route and timing for the sale of QinetiQ. The selection process for a strategic partner for QinetiQ is now well under way with initial bids from interested parties due by 20 May. The timetable is on track to identify the preferred bidder by summer 2002 and complete the process later this year.
§ Mr. Edward DaveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the information memorandum sent to potential bidders for QinetiQ; and if he will make a statement. [57796]
§ Mr. IngramThe QinetiQ information memorandum contains details about QinetiQ's business, including future commercial plans, and is therefore commercial-in-confidence. It was prepared solely for the use of bidders to aid them in the preparation of their indicative bids for a share of the business. In accordance with normal practice, these parties were required to sign confidentiality agreements before the information memorandum was sent to them. Publishing the document more widely would not be in the interests of a successful QinetiQ transaction and would risk damaging value for the taxpayer. I am, therefore, withholding the information requested under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.