§ Mr. IngramTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of the funding commitments which have been given to Assessment Services Ltd. as part of the purchase agreement for the takeover of the National Engineering Laboratory. [38184]
§ Mr. Ian Taylor[holding answer 23 October 1995]: The Department is committed on behalf of industry over a five-year period to supporting the national measurement system through a programme of research and technology transfer at the National Physical Laboratory, the 689W Laboratory of the Government Chemist and the National Engineering Laboratory. Flow measurement work at NEL is an integral part of this. NEL has won other contracts under DTI's innovation and technology support budget. The Department will also be placing further work under these programmes in the next five years. The total of this guaranteed work at NEL is £30.2 million spread over five years.
§ Mr. IngramTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the negotiated price paid by ASL for the National Engineering Laboratory. [38183]
§ Mr. Taylor[holding answer 23 October 1995]: The Department and Assessment Services Ltd. signed on 23 October the assets purchase agreement and the framework agreement and supporting documents for the purchase of the National Engineering Laboratory, subject to the resolution of certain property issues which is expected shortly. Completion is planned to take place on 31 October as originally proposed.