Prior Options Review

EDM number 1121 in 1995-96, proposed by Nigel Jones on 09/07/1996.

That this House is deeply concerned at the serious threat to the United Kingdom science base posed by internal disruption and loss of staff morale caused by the Prior Options Programme to privatise Government Scientific research institutes; notes that the timescale for Prior Options is already three months behind the schedule announced in a Government Press release of 25th April; understands that the second tranche of institutes to be privatised under Prior Options is likely to incur costs exceeding ú100 million; condemns the lack of foresight of the legal minefield requiring huge fees to be paid to United States and European lawyers for the disposal of Partical Physics and Astronomy Research Council sites in Hawaii and La Palma; deplores the fact the transfer into private ownership of overseas observatory sites alone is expected to result in half a million pounds of unanticipated legal costs; regards Prior Options as unviable; and calls upon the Government to halt the process and recognise that the policy represents the worst in Government dogma and is a gross waste of taxpayers' money.

This motion has been signed by a total of 25 MPs.