§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Government plan to privatise the royal ordnance factories by hiving-off individual factories to prospective purchasers, or through a flotation on the Stock Exchange.
§ Mr. PattieAs I made clear when the Ordnance Factories and Military Services Bill received its Second Reading on 16 January, it will only be after the royal ordnance factories have been enabled to trade on a commercial basis that the Government can realistically determine the best means by which privatisation can be achieved.