§ Mr. McLeishTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place a copy in the Library of the Treasury guidelines within which the process of receiving bids and the disposal of assets relating to the sale of the Skills Training Agency were carried out.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe general principles covering the disposal of assets are set out in "Government Accounting", a copy of which is in the Library. To ensure that the process of receiving and considering bids reflects best commercial practice, Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte were employed as sale advisers. No general guidance was issued for the bidding process, but Treasury officials were consulted throughout.