§ Mr.Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his answer of 26th June 1978, if he will list those companies with which substantial negotiations have now started and those companies whose stockholder representatives are not yet ready to participate in substantive negotiations for compensation following nationalisation.
§ Mr.KaufmanMy answer of 26th June stated the Government's intention to treat the negotiations as confidential to the parties until an announcement can be made about the outcome. It would be contrary to this intention to identify the individuals or cases to which the hon. Member refers, but at present there are four companies, out of 24, whose stockholders' representatives are not ready to participate in substantive negotiations by the end of July. A settlement has been announced today in respect of six companies.