HC Deb 25 January 1991 vol 184 cc331-2W
Mr. Gordon Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the fee agreed with Price Waterhouse for advising on the sale of British Technology Group.

Mr. Lilley

The total costs of the proposed privatisation of the British technology group including the fees payable to Price Waterhouse, will be made available to Parliament after the privatisation.

Mr. Gordon Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the corporate plan for British Technology Group.

Mr. Lilley

The corporate plan is a confidential management document containing commercially sensitive information. However, copies of the annual reports and accounts of the National Enterprise Board and the National Research Development Corporation are available in the Library of the House.

Mr. Gordon Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the budget for publishing or advertising of the British Technology Group sale.

Mr. Lilley

The costs for publicity or advertising of the proposed British Technology Group sale will arise in the 1991–92 financial year, estimates for which will shortly be presented to Parliament.

It is proposed that the Department's costs will be met from within the Department's vote.

Mr. Gordon Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the cost of the Coopers and Lybrand report on British Technology Group.

Mr. Lilley

It is not the normal practice of my Department to disclose the costs of individual consultancies.

Mr. Gordon Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the Coopers and Lybrand report on British Technology Group.

Mr. Lilley

This report was prepared in 1988 to advise my Department on the feasibility and mechanics of privatising the British Technology Group. It contains information which is confidential and commercially sensitive and it is therefore not for wider circulation.