§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what use the Government have made of their golden share in Cable and Wireless in respect of the appointment of foreign nationals. [17154]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorThe Government accepted a request in December from Cable and Wireless to change article 119 of that company's articles of association to facilitate the appointment of a new chief executive. Article 119 relates to the managing and executive directors—paragraph B specifically to the nationality of senior executives—and the Government's agreement as special shareholder is required to amendments to this article. I announced the Government's agreement in the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point (Dr. Spink), on 18 December 1995,Official Report, column 862.