§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
184WAWhether Mr. John Beckwith, who has been reported in the press to run the "Premier Club" which raises funds for a political party by introducing businessmen to Ministers of the Crown, is on short-lists for tendering for the Ministry of Defence's Forces' homes estate and for other government departments' estates now to be sold, and, if so, what steps they are taking to remove him from these short-lists.
Earl HoweMr. Beckwith has himself disclosed the inclusion of the BHT consortium on the short-list for the sale of the married quarters estate. I can therefore confirm that this is the case.
The selection of the eventual purchaser of the married quarters estate, as with all departments' estates where they are being sold will be made on the basis of a careful evaluation of all the final bids received, taking into account all relevant considerations. We do not regard the political affiliations of individual members of bidding groups as relevant considerations; it would be quite improper for us to discriminate between bidders on such a basis.