§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether any progress has been made on the disposal of Ferguson's Shipbuilders Ltd, Port Glasgow.
§ Mr. NewtonI have today invited the chairman of British Shipbuilders to open negotiations with the HLD Group Ltd of Greenock as preferred bidder for the assets of the corporation's shipbuilding subsidiary Ferguson Shipbuilders Ltd at Port Glasgow. HLD's bid depends on its reaching an early and satisfactory agreement with the work force. I should make it clear that, should this not prove possible, I could not be optimistic that there would be any other realistic prospect of achieving a successful sale.