§ Mr. Sumbergasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on progress on the disposal of Rover Group truck and bus activities.
§ Mr. Giles ShawOn 19 February my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry informed the House that the Government had accepted the Rover Group's recommendation that Leyland Trucks, Freight 429W Rover, and the related parts operations and overseas subsidiaries of the Rover Group should combine with DAF Trucks in a new joint venture company. The agreement between Rover Group and DAF to transfer these businesses to the new merged company, Leyland DAF Ltd, was completed on 6 April.
On 13 January I informed the House that the sale of Leyland Bus to a management-led consortium had been completed. The Government have now accepted the Rover Group's proposal to dispose of Leyland DAB, the Group's wholly-owned bus manufacturing subsidiary in Denmark, to its management, subject to final negotiations and procedures at the annual general meeting of Leyland DAB on 14 April.