§ Mr. TrendTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if arrangements have been concluded with Harland and Wolff Holdings plc in relation to repayment to Her Majesty's Government of the £6.5 million pension fund surplus following the report, HC paper 126, Session 1991–92, of the Committee of Public Accounts into privatisation of the company. [33016]
§ Mr. AncramFollowing detailed negotiations, the Department of Economic Development and Harland and Wolff Holdings plc have agreed arrangements whereby the company will repay £6.5 million to the Department. It has also been agreed that the Department will meet certain additional costs, in excess of those provided for at the time of privatisation, totalling £3.023 million, incurred by the company in connection with the privatisation in 1989. The Northern Ireland Audit Office has been consulted in194W the course of these negotiations and has been notified of the agreement which has been reached.