Transport Research Laboratory (Hansard, 20 July 1994)

§ Mr. Donohoe
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what safeguards he will be implementing to ensure the long-term research functions of the Transport Research Laboratory when it is privatised.

§ Mr. Key
The privatisation of the Transport Research Laboratory will have full regard to the need to satisfy the Government's continuing requirement for research, whether long-term or otherwise.

§ Mr. Donohoe
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what stage his Department has reached in privatising the Transport Research Laboratory; and when he expects this process to be completed.

§ Mr. Key
My Department has recently appointed Price Waterhouse as financial advisers on the privatisation of the Transport Research Laboratory, which we hope can be achieved during 1995–96. We expect to appoint legal advisers shortly to assist with the sale of TRL.

§ Mr. Donohoe
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contacts his Department has had with possible bidders for the Transport Research Laboratory.

§ Mr. Key
Various bodies have approached the Department in confidence to express an interest in bidding for the Transport Research Laboratory.