§ Mr. MansTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether any further progress has been made on the disposal of the subsidiaries of British Shipbuilders, and if he will make a statement.
285W
§ Mr. NewtonI have agreed with British Shipbuilders that it may dispose of the assets and goodwill of its subsidiary British Shipbuilders Training Ltd to a management team. This will retain a valuable training resource at Govan on the Clyde which is already closely involved with the youth training scheme and will be increasingly involved with the employment training programme.
I have also agreed with British Shipbuilders that it may open negotiations with William Steward (Holdings) Ltd as preferred bidder for the disposal of its pipework and electrical supply subsidiary Sunderland Forge Services Ltd. Finally, British Shipbuilders' preferred bidder for its design and computing subsidiary Marine Design Consultants Ltd based at Sunderland and Dundee has withdrawn. I have agreed with the corporation's chairman that he should invite further bids no later than Friday 14 April.