§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about the progress of the sales of HMSO, Chessington Computer Centre, Recruitment and Assessment Service and the Occupational Health and Safety Agency. [41081]
§ Mr. FreemanThese sales have now been completed. Chessington Computer Centre was sold on 31 July to a consortium made up of a management and employee buy-out 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 31 December 1999.
850WThe Occupational Health and Safety Agency—OHSA—was sold on 18 September to BMI Health Services, which is part of General Healthcare Group plc. The consideration was £350,000. In addition, BMI is 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.
Her Majesty's Stationery Office was sold on 30 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 was sold on 30 September to the Capita Group plc. The consideration was £7.25 million.