§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the timetable of his proposals in respect of the privatisation of the Transport Research Laboratory.
656W
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleThe Transport Research Laboratory became an executive agency in April 1992. At the same time the control of research budgets passed to departmental customers; TRL now must compete for an increasing proportion of the Department's research business. I keep the future of the agency, as with all parts of my Department, under constant review and any plans for privatisation would, of course, be notified to Parliament and be the subject of consultation with staff.