§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the President of the Board of Trade which organisations, agencies and other bodies relating to his departmental area of responsibility have been privatised since 1990; and what plans he has for further privatisation.
§ Mr. EggarSince 1990, the following privatisations have been undertaken by the Department of Trade and Industry and the former Department of Energy: 513W
- 1990 Sale of 12 Regional Electricity Companies
- 1991 Sale of National Power and PowerGen
- 1992 Sale of British Technology Group
Plans for future privatisations are as follows:
- (i) On 17 February this year, I announced the Government's intention to privatise the commercial activities of the Atomic Energy Authority, Official Report, columns 922–924.
- (ii) My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced plans for the future of the National Engineering Laboratory, Laboratory of the Government Chemist and National Physical Laboratory on 14 April this year, Official Report, columns 251–253.
- (iii) The Government expect to return the coal mining activities of British Coal Corporation to the private sector by the end of the year.
On 30 June, the Department published a Green Paper on "The Future Of Postal Services" (Cm 2614). The Green Paper set out a number of options for the future of the Post Office. The Government's preferred option is to allow Royal Mail and Parcelforce to operate as a private company owned by the public and employees, with the Government retaining 49 per cent. of the shares. This is subject to a consultation period, after which a decision will be made.
My right hon. Friend is reviewing the scope for privatisation or contractorisation of the Patent Office and Companies House as part of the required periodic agency review process, which considers a range of possibilities from abolition to maintenance of the status quo.