§ Mr. ClayTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make it his policy to include in his guidance to the British Shipbuilders disposals committee for the assessment of bids for North East Shipbuilders Limited closure costs arising from(a) redundancies in companies dependent on business with North East Shipbuilders Limited, (b) unemployment benefit and social security benefits paid to redundant (i) North East Shipbuilders Limited employees and (ii) employees of other companies dependent on North East Shipbuilders Limited, (c) the loss of taxation from (i) North East Shipbuilders Limited employees and (ii) employees of other companies dependent on North East Shipbuilders Limited, (d) the effect on local authority finances and (e) the cost of any measures taken by the Government to replace jobs lost by the closure of North East Shipbuilders Limited.
§ Mr. NewtonI have invited the chairman of British Shipbuilders to advise me on financial and commercial matters relevant to the assessment of bids for the British Shipbuilders facilities. Wider considerations are a matter for the Government.