HC Deb 23 February 1993 vol 219 cc549-50W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to arrange the sales of British Coal, Caledonian MacBrayne, Channel Four Television Company, Commonwealth Development Corporation, Covent Garden Market Authority, English Industrial Estates Corporation and Welsh Fourth Channel Authority.

Mr. Dorrell

The Government remain committed to the privatisation of British Coal. However, no decisions on the form or timing of privatisation will be taken until after the coal review White Paper has been debated. The future status of the Commonwealth Development Corporation is currently under review. Ministers have announced their intention to dispose of the assets of the Covent Garden market authority as soon as practicable. There are no current plans to privatise Caledonian MacBrayne or English Industrial Estates Corporation. Channel Four and Welsh Channlel Four are private sector bodies.