§ Mr. Lawlerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision is likely to be announced about the future of the Crown Agents.
§ Mr. RaisonAn announcement about the future of the Crown Agents will be made as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Lawlerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider hiving off to private industry the technical, training, procurement and consultancy services of the Crown Agents.
§ Mr. RaisonThe Government are considering the future of all of the services performed by the Crown Agents.
§ Mr. Lawlerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it the policy of Her Majesty's Government to ensure that no preferment will be given to the Crown Agents over the provision of information on prospective loan projects funded by bilateral United Kingdom aid.
§ Mr. RaisonCrown Agents provide specific services related to the administration of all United Kingdom bilateral capital aid spending on United Kingdom goods and services. In order to carry out these tasks as agents of both Her Majesty's Government and the overseas Government receiving United Kingdom aid, they need to receive particular information concerning prospective aid financed projects.
§ Mr. Lawlerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the gross profit requirements imposed on the Crown Agents when bidding for contractual work on projects derived from international loan agencies.
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§ Mr. RaisonAs provided for by the Crown Agents Act 1979, the Government set a rate of return for the Crown Agents overall operations, not for particular types of business.