Building Research Establishment (Hansard, 13 February 1997)

§ Mr. Raynsford
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what were the terms of reference for the BRE Future Group established in December 1995; and how many of its participants are members of the Foundation for the Built Environment; [15613]
(2) if the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the BRE Futures Group were made available to both shortlisted bidders for the Building Research Establishment. [15621]

§ Mr. Robert B. Jones
The terms of reference of the BRE Futures Group, set up in December 1995, were to support the BRE management board in considering the measures to be taken to improve the efficiency and value for money of the establishment, and the continuing management of change within BRE. The group has not met since the competitive sale of BRE was announced.
262W
None of the members of the group are members of the Foundation for the Built Environment. No documentation relating to the group was made available to any bidder.

§ Mr. Raynsford
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) on what grounds he decided that new legislation was not required to authorise the privatisation of the Building Research Establishment; [15615]
(2) under what existing statutory powers he is proposing to privatise the Building Research Establishment. [15616]

§ Mr. Jones
The Building Research Establishment is not a statutory body and has no statutory functions. No statutory powers are therefore required to transfer it to the private sector. The transfer can be effected by way of an ordinary contract of sale.

§ Mr. Raynsford
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date the first results of their 1997–98 bids, in respect of projects under the partners in technology scheme, were made available to the Building Research Establishment executive agency. [15617]

§ Mr. Jones
My Department wrote to BRE on 14 January listing the partners in technology projects that it is prepared to support subject to contract.

§ Mr. Raynsford
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if minutes and working papers of the management board meetings of the Building Research Establishment were made available to both the shortlisted bidders for the Building Research Establishment. [15619]

§ Mr. Jones
Relevant working papers of the management board were made available to both short-listed bidders for BRE. In addition, once the competitive sale of BRE was announced, the Department was required to be represented at all meetings at which decisions might be taken which would materially affect the conduct of the business, including meetings of the BRE management board. In some cases, where the discussion warranted it, a supplementary note was put in the data room for the information of bidders.

§ Mr. Raynsford
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who will bear the legal liability, or any share of that liability, for claims arising from work carried out or advice given by the Building Research Establishment before its privatisation. [15622]

§ Mr. Jones
Legal liability remains the subject of negotiation between the Department and the preferred purchaser of BRE.

§ Mr. Raynsford
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department decided to privatise the Building Research Establishment. [15614]
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§ Mr. Jones
My right hon. Friend announced on 7 November 1995 his decision to move the BRE to the private sector and his intention to commission a study of the options for transfer. This decision was confirmed in his announcement on 2 April 1996 of his preferred way forward for effecting the transfer.

§ Mr. Raynsford
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements were put in place to ensure a separation of the roles of members of the management bid team at the Building Research Establishment as bidders for the Building Research Establishment and as members of the Building Research Establishment management; when these arrangements were put into effect; and what steps were taken to monitor their effectiveness. [15618]

§ Mr. Jones
The Department issued guidance to the management and BRE staff when permission was given for the management bid team to express an interest in purchasing BRE. This guidance has been updated as necessary as the sale process has progressed. Its operation is overseen by the team of officials establishment by the Department to transfer BRE to the private sector.

1. Section 2 discretionary awards to post-graduate students

Academic years 1992–93 to 1994–95 by Government Office Region in England and in Wales¹

Number of awards (000s) Total expenditure £ million²

1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95

North East 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.9 0.5 0.3

North West 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.6 0.6 1.1

Merseyside 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.7 0.4 0.3

Yorkshire and Humberside 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.7 0.2 0.2

East Midlands 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.5 0.4 0.1

West Midlands 0.5 0.1 0.1 1.6 0.4 0.3

South West 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.6 0.5 0.2

Eastern 0.3 0.0 0.0 1.7 0.0 0.0

London 0.3 0.2 0.2 1.1 0.4 0.5

South East 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.9 0.5 0.6

Wales 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.1 0.1

¹Made by local education authorities in each region to students normally domiciled in their area.

² In 1996–97 prices using the GDP deflator for each year for fee expenditure and the RPI (excluding mortgage interest payments) of September of each year for maintenance expenditure.

2. Section 2 discretionary awards to further education students aged 16 to 18 years¹

Academic years 1992–93 to 1994–95 by Government Office Region in England and in Wales²

Number of awards (000s) Total expenditure £ million³

1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95

North East 2.9 7.0 7.1 1.4 4.4 3.3

North West 11.9 20.8 20.6 4.8 9.8 8.6

Merseyside 4.1 3.3 3.7 1.8 1.9 1.3

Yorkshire and Humberside 17.0 13.2 13.1 5.3 5.0 4.9

East Midlands 11.9 6.0 5.9 4.2 3.8 2.8

West Midlands 6.3 7.1 8.6 2.6 2.2 2.6

South West 9.4 11.5 10.7 6.1 6.6 5.8

Eastern 8.7 7.1 7.8 6.2 5.0 5.2

London 9.2 12.5 12.7 4.2 5.0 5.3

South East 11.6 22.2 22.4 4.3 8.7 8.8

Wales 13.9 14.0 13.5 7.0 3.9 4.0

¹ Data on awards to 16 to 18 year olds were collected only for awards made at less than 50 per cent. of the mandatory rate in 1992–93; Table 3 may include some awards made at more than 50 per cent. of the mandatory rate to 16 to 18 year olds although, in general, full value awards (made at 50 to 100 per cent. of the mandatory rate) are made to students over 19 years old.

²Made by local education authorities in each region to students normally domiciled in their area.

³In 1992–97 prices using the GDP deflator for each year for fee expenditure and the RPI (excluding mortgage interest payments) of September of each year for maintenance expenditure.

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§ Mr. Raynsford
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if progress reports on the efficiency review of the Building Research Establishment's library service were made available to both shortlisted bidders for the Building Research Establishment. [15620]

§ Mr. Jones
Yes.

1. Section 2 discretionary awards to post-graduate students
Academic years 1992–93 to 1994–95 by Government Office Region in England and in Wales¹
	Number of awards (000s)	Total expenditure £ million²
	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
North East	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.9	0.5	0.3
North West	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.6	0.6	1.1
Merseyside	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.7	0.4	0.3
Yorkshire and Humberside	0.4	0.1	0.1	0.7	0.2	0.2
East Midlands	0.1	0.2	0.0	0.5	0.4	0.1
West Midlands	0.5	0.1	0.1	1.6	0.4	0.3
South West	0.3	0.2	0.1	0.6	0.5	0.2
Eastern	0.3	0.0	0.0	1.7	0.0	0.0
London	0.3	0.2	0.2	1.1	0.4	0.5
South East	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.9	0.5	0.6
Wales	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.8	0.1	0.1
¹Made by local education authorities in each region to students normally domiciled in their area.
² In 1996–97 prices using the GDP deflator for each year for fee expenditure and the RPI (excluding mortgage interest payments) of September of each year for maintenance expenditure.

2. Section 2 discretionary awards to further education students aged 16 to 18 years¹
Academic years 1992–93 to 1994–95 by Government Office Region in England and in Wales²
	Number of awards (000s)	Total expenditure £ million³
	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
North East	2.9	7.0	7.1	1.4	4.4	3.3
North West	11.9	20.8	20.6	4.8	9.8	8.6
Merseyside	4.1	3.3	3.7	1.8	1.9	1.3
Yorkshire and Humberside	17.0	13.2	13.1	5.3	5.0	4.9
East Midlands	11.9	6.0	5.9	4.2	3.8	2.8
West Midlands	6.3	7.1	8.6	2.6	2.2	2.6
South West	9.4	11.5	10.7	6.1	6.6	5.8
Eastern	8.7	7.1	7.8	6.2	5.0	5.2
London	9.2	12.5	12.7	4.2	5.0	5.3
South East	11.6	22.2	22.4	4.3	8.7	8.8
Wales	13.9	14.0	13.5	7.0	3.9	4.0
¹ Data on awards to 16 to 18 year olds were collected only for awards made at less than 50 per cent. of the mandatory rate in 1992–93; Table 3 may include some awards made at more than 50 per cent. of the mandatory rate to 16 to 18 year olds although, in general, full value awards (made at 50 to 100 per cent. of the mandatory rate) are made to students over 19 years old.
²Made by local education authorities in each region to students normally domiciled in their area.
³In 1992–97 prices using the GDP deflator for each year for fee expenditure and the RPI (excluding mortgage interest payments) of September of each year for maintenance expenditure.