QINETIQ SELL OFF AND PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

Early day motion 531, tabled 16 January 2003 by Llew Smith (Labour). Signed by 35 members.

That this House disapproves of the proposals set out in the Ministry of Defence departmental minute, dated 17th December 2002, to retain in the public sector liabilities amounting to almost ú100 million as part of the deal done with the Carlyle Group to sell-off the defence evaluation organisation QinetiQ; believes it is wrong to encumber taxpayers with liabilities while selling off public assets to the private sector; further believes that the method of informing honourable Members by a departmental minute deposited in the parliamentary libraries just two days before the Christmas recess is an insufficiently transparent way of keeping parliament appraised of the sell-off strategy and detailed provision; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Defence to postpone any further action in respect of the QinetiQ sell-off until parliament has had a proper chance to debate the implications.

Signatures by party: Labour 22, Liberal Democrat 10, Plaid Cymru 2, Labour/Co-operative 1.