§ Mr. IngramTo ask the President of the Board of Trade in what circumstances the Astra provisions applied to the privatisation of public bodies; and if they will apply to the takeover of the National Engineering Laboratory by ASL. [38186]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorAn "Astra" clause is not normally made a condition of sale when privatising a public body although shortlisted bidders can be invited to say whether they would be prepared voluntarily to undertake not to seek the renegotiation of redundancy terms. The purchaser of the National Engineering Laboratory had made its 419W intentions known to the Department and the Department has passed on this information to staff and to the unions which represent staff at the laboratory.
§ Mr. IngramTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if all contracts by Government Departments or agencies previously placed at the National Engineering Laboratory will now be subject to competitive tendering following the takeover by ASL of the laboratory. [38182]
§ Mr. TaylorWork outstanding under letters of agreement or contracts with the National Engineering Laboratory will be transferred to the purchaser.
§ Mr. IngramTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of the value of existing contracts, split between private and public sector, held by the National Engineering Laboratory and which will be transferred to ASL on takeover. [38185]
§ Mr. TaylorThe value of the existing contracts of the National Engineering Laboratory is commercially sensitive information which must remain confidential.