National Maritime Institute (Hansard, 27 January 1982)

§ Mr. Patrick Jenkin

The Department of Industry's intention to convert the National Maritime Institute into a non-governmental industrial research laboratory was included in a statement to the House on the size and cost of the Civil Service by the Minister of State, Civil Service Department, on 6 December 1979. Following that, the Department of Industry engaged independent management consultants to carry out a detailed and wide-ranging study of the feasibility and implementation of this intended change in NMI's status. I have given considerable thought to the comprehensive advice I have received from the independent consultants and intend to convert the NMI into an independent research laboratory on 1 October 1982. I expect that the NMI will be constituted as a company limited by guarantee and be registered under the Companies Act.

I have therefore set up a shadow board under the chairmanship of Dr. Jack Birks to act on behalf of the prospective company. The board's current membership is:

Dr. Jack Birks, CBE
Managing Director
British Petroleum Co. Ltd.
Mr. B. A. Smouha
A partner in Touche Ross & Co.
Dr. A. W. Rudge
Managing Director
Electrical Research Association.
Mr. J. A. Derrington
Director
Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons Ltd.
Mr. J. E. Cammell
Director
National Maritime Institute.
Mr. B. N. Steele
Deputy Director
National Maritime Institute.

Its main responsibilities will be to continue the appraisal of the viability of the prospective company; to draft its memorandum and articles of association; to seek suitable guarantors; to consider with the Government the terms and conditions of asset and staff transfer; to make arrangements to register the company and to consider and advise on such matters as are deemed by NMI or DoI or other Government Departments to be of importance. The shadow board will be dissolved immediately prior to the NMI being transferred out of the Government service.