HC Deb 15 April 1993 vol 222 cc689-90W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many people applied and signed for the information memorandum for the sale of National Transcommunications Ltd.

Mr. Brooke

Fifty copies of the confidential information memorandum were sent out.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many competitive bids were(a) considered and (b) investigated for National Transcommunications Ltd.

Monuments Commission, commonly known as English Heritage, and the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. The members of these two bodies and their terms of office are listed in the tables.

Details of the qualifications for appointment to these bodies are contained in schedule 3 to the National Heritage Act 1983 for English Heritage, and in the royal warrant issued in 1992 for the royal commission. Copies of both documents are held in the Library of the House.

Mr. Brooke

Three indicative bids were shortlisted; two continued preparation for bidding up until the final deadline.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much National Transcommunications Ltd. was sold for on privatisation; and how much it was valued at before sale.

Mr. Brooke

£70 million. This was towards the top end of the indicative valuation of the company. The National Audit Office report, published on 27 November 1992, concluded that the price was satisfactory.

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