§ Lord Underhillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will give an assurance that no consideration is being given to taking Shorts out of the public sector.
Viscount LongThe Government's plans for Shorts are kept under regular review. This includes examination of prospects for returning the company to the private sector at an appropriate stage, in pursuit of the Government's overall policy on privatisation. I can, however, confirm that there are no immediate plans to treat the company in this way.