Agricultural Development Advisory Service (Hansard, 9 February 1995)

§ Dr. Strang
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what requirements he has placed upon the merchant bankers that he has appointed to advise on the privatisation of the Agricultural Development Advisory Service in respect of the assessment of the forecast made available to them by the Agricultural Development Advisory Service board.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
Charterhouse Bank Ltd. has been asked to advise on a range of possible options for the future of ADAS. It will, inter alia, consider and advise on any financial projections submitted by the ADAS board.

§ Dr. Strang
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made as to(a) the level of staff cuts and (b) other measures that will be necessary to ensure the commercial feasibility of a privatised Agricultural Development Advisory Service.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
Since no decisions have yet been taken on privatisation, no such assessments have been made.

§ Dr. Strang
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the report by Charterhouse Bank Ltd. on possible options for the privatisation of the Agricultural Development Advisory Service to be published; and if he will place it in the Library.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
Charterhouse is expected to report in February. The report will not be published.

§ Dr. Strang
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the level of Government expenditure to date on the report by Charterhouse Bank Ltd. on possible options for the privatisation of the Agricultural Development Advisory Service.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
Details of individual contracts are a matter of commercial confidentiality.

§ Dr. Strang
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information and documentation has been supplied by the Agricultural Development Advisory Service to Charterhouse Bank Ltd. to enable it to meet its remit to examine the commercial background of the agency.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
Charterhouse representatives have had extensive with ADAS Directors and have visited three ADAS offices. Information has been supplied as requested.

§ Dr. Strang
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made as to which of the assets presently owned by his Department would be eligible for transferral into the private sector as a consequence of the privatisation of the Agricultural Development Advisory Service.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
The assets that might be transferred will depend on the future needs of the Ministry and would need to be discussed with the purchaser. The Ministry will, of course, take account of any legal restrictions on disposal.