§ Mr. FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what future progress there has been in deciding the future ownership of the National Resources Institute. [19551]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorI announced on 14 December that final bids for the NRI were being invited from three groups. Two final bids were received. Following detailed consideration of these in relation to the Government's objectives for the transfer, I have decided to give preferred bidder status to a consortium of the university of Edinburgh, the university of Greenwich, Imperial college of science, technology and medicine and Wye college of the university of London. Subject to the satisfactory conclusion of negotiations, I intend that the NRI should transfer to the new owners as soon as practicable.