§ Mr. Banksasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will take steps to secure the independence of small and medium-sized businesses in the break-up of the National Enterprise Board; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallAs the board's draft guidelines indicate, it is my right hon. Friend's intention that the board should dispose of all of its shareholdings, as soon as commercially practicable, for the highest available consideration, subject to the interests of the taxpayer and the company and such other factors as my right hon. Friend may draw to the board's attention. In general, the independance of the company would be a factor of special importance in those 297W cases where the board had acquired shares subject to an agreement to return them to the existing shareholders on appropriate terms.