HC Deb 30 June 1999 vol 334 cc158-9W
Sir Michael Spicer

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, under the public-private partnership proposals for DERA, that organisation will be deemed to carry the full risk of bankruptcy for the purpose of being able to borrow freely in the private capital market. [87372]

Mr.Spellar

No decisions have been made on the form of a PPP for DERA. However, regardless of the precise form of PPP, the Government would wish to ensure that it had rights to retain access to any strategic capabilities for use only in extreme circumstances, such as bankruptcy.