§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the proposed sale of the royal dockyards at Devonport and Rosyth.
§ Mr. FreemanFollowing invitations to tender issued by the Ministry of Defence on 14 July 1994, initial bids have been received from Devonport Management Limited, for Devonport dockyard, and from Babcock International Group, for Rosyth dockyard. No other bids have been received to date. We are currently evaluating these bids and negotiations will take place with each of the companies, but outcomes other than sale cannot be ruled out.