Directorate of Telecommunications

HC Deb 05 May 1993 vol 224 c84W

Sir John Wheeler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for privatising the directorate of telecommunications.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

As I announced on 3 February 1993 at column 204, I have been given approval for advisers to be engaged in preparation for the privatisation of DTELS (formerly the Directorate of Telecommunications). The aim is privatise during 1993–94 by means of a trade sale.

Expenses in connection with the sale will be met from sale receipts. Parliamentary approval of this new service will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the Home Office's privatisation of DTELS vote (class VIII, vote 5). Pending that approval, urgent expenditure incurred in advance of the sale will be met by repayable advances, not expected to exceed £1 million, from the Contingencies Fund.