§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Industry on what date the negotiations commenced with Vickers Ltd. for completion of the payment of compensation for nationalisation of its shipbuilding and aircraft building interests; and on what date he expects the negotiations to be concluded.
§ Mr. Kaufman,pursuant to the reply [Official Report, 23rd June 1978], gave the following information:
In accordance with the usual practice of the parties to commercial negotiations, the Government intend, for their part, to treat the negotiations on compensation as confidential to the parties, until an announcement can be made about the outcome.
The general position at present is that substantive negotiations have already begun in respect of some companies and arrangements have been made for the 403W opening of negotiations by the end of July in all other cases where the stockholders' representative is, or will be, ready to participate in them.