§ Mr. JanmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information on the Department's definition of substantial employee share ownership and management buy out preference has been given to Maritime Transport Service; in addition to that which has been given to any other bidder for any trust port under the Ports Act 1991.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe chairman of Maritime Transport Services met officials of the Department on 4 February at his request. As regards a price preference for a management and employee buy-out, officials said that my right hon. and learned Friend had made it clear that he was prepared to consider a limited price preference in the light of the particular circumstances of the situation and that they were not able to add further to that statement. As regards the level of employee share ownership, officials said that this was a matter for the relevant port authority boards to consider in assessing bids against the objectives of sale agreed for their port before making their recommendation to my right hon. and learned Friend as to the sale of the port and suggested that Maritime Transport Services should seek any necessary clarification from the port authority boards as to how they would view the level of employee share ownership in assessing bids. The Department has given Maritime Transport Services no information on these matters which is not already available to other bidders for trust ports.