§ Mr. Blairasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list in the Official Report those individuals and organisations which have been appointed from outside Her Majesty's Government to advise his Department on the proposed privatisation of British Gas.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe Government have to date appointed four firms to advise on the proposed privatisation of the British Gas Corporation: N M Rothschild & Sons Limited as financial advisers; Slaughter & May as legal advisers; Touche Ross & Co as tax and accountancy advisers and Cazenove & Co as stockbrokers. In addition Price Waterhouse have been jointly appointed by the Government and British Gas to act as reporting accountants.
§ Mr. Blairasked the Secretary of State for Energy what follow-up action has been taken by his Department in response to the Deloitte Haskins and Sells efficiency study of British Gas; whether he and British Gas accept the detailed proposals on pages 8 to 23 of that study; and if he will place in the Library a progress report of steps taken towards implementation.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI refer the hon. Member to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Wiltshire, North (Mr. Needham) on 13 February 1984. Latest information on the corporation's record in securing efficiency improvements is contained in the 1984–85 annual report and accounts. Privatisation will mean a whole new emphasis on efficiency for the benefit of consumers, shareholders and employees alike.