§ Mr. Tim Smithasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy towards the maintenance of the existing terms and conditions of employment of the work force at the Birkenhead and Barrow warship yards, including pension arrangements, following the proposed privatisation of those yards; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) on 24 February, at column419.
§ Mr. Tim Smithasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is his policy towards the involvement of employees in the privatisation of the Barrow and Birkenhead warship yards;
(2) what priority he proposes to attach to local employee and local community participation in considering the employee consortium's buy-out proposals for the Barrow and Birkenhead warship yards; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Hanleyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria other than price he intends to apply when judging rival bids for the Barrow and Birkenhead warship yards next week.
§ Mr. Thurnhamasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to attach a high priority to regional control and management and investment in the north-west when he considers bids for Barrow and Birkenhead warship yards; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe Government have made it clear that they welcome bids from all interested parties who have the necessary skill, finance and commercial attributes to make a success of the business. Commercial considerations of this sort will be paramount in the assessment of bids for Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Limited.