§ Lord Wade of Chorltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
183WAWhen the sales of HMSO, Chessington Computer Centre, Recruitment and Assessment Services and the Occupational Health and Safety Agency were completed.
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe)These sales have all now been completed. Chessington Computer Centre was sold on 31st July to a consortium made up of a management and employee buyout team, Integris UK (the outsourcing division of Bull Information Systems Ltd.) and financial backers, Close Brothers. The consideration was £12.5 million, of which £1.25 million is deferred until 31st December 1999.
The Occupational Health and Safety Agency (OHSA) was sold on 18th September to BMI Health Services, which is part of General Healthcare Group plc. The consideration was £350,000. In addition, BMI are acting as agents for the Government to collect trade debts owed to OHSA which were estimated to be about £1.4 million when the sale was completed.
HMSO was sold on 30th September to National Publishing Group (NPG), a consortium led by Electra Fleming, to trade under the name The Stationery Office. The consideration was £54 million. In addition, NPG has raised £71 million to fund investment, restructuring and working capital for The Stationery Office. In a separate transaction in September, the Government sold an HMSO site near Manchester for £1.4 million.
Recruitment and Assessment Services were sold on 30th September to The Capita Group plc. The consideration was £7.25 million.