HC Deb 11 July 1988 vol 137 cc30-1W
Mr. Ingram

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how he intends to safeguard the commercial-in-confidence information in the possession of the National Engineering Laboratory following the proposed privatisation of the laboratory; and what steps he will take to ensure that the successful bidder does not gain access to information paid for by competitors.

Mr. Butcher

Commercially sensitive information in the possession of the National Engineering Laboratory will be safeguarded through negotiation of appropriate provisions in the agreement with the purchaser.

Mr. Ingram

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to receive the Property Services Agency evaluation of the assets of the National Engineering Laboratory; and if he will place the information in the Library.

Mr. Butcher

The Property Services Agency has provided my Department with an evaluation of the assets of NEL. An extract is being placed in the Library covering those aspects being made available to possible bidders for NEL who have expressed an interest in receiving this information.

Mr. Ingram

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make it his policy that staff employed at the National Engineering Laboratory do not need to transfer to the proposed private company and may continue to remain within the Civil Service if they so choose.

Mr. Butcher

The transfer of staff from the National Engineering Laboratory to the new company is a matter for discussion with the successful bidder. I hope that as many as possible of the existing staff will transfer. If staff do not transfer to the new company, we shall use our best efforts to find them alternative jobs in the Department or elsewhere in the Civil Service, but I cannot guarantee that this will always be possible.