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British Shipbuilders Corporation

Answer

The British Shipbuilders Corporation (BSC) has no active trading operations after the sale of its various shipbuilding assets in the 1980s and 1990s. Its primary purpose is dealing with health claims from former BSC shipyard workers, suffering from mainly asbestos-related diseases. The corporation's solicitors, Eversheds LLP, manage the ongoing claims. Day-to-day oversight of the work is undertaken by officials in the Coal Liabilities Unit (CLU) in the Department of Energy and Climate Change under arrangements agreed with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). This is on the basis of the extensive experience of the CLU in managing health-related compensation claims. Civil servants act as the board directors of the corporation (as part of their normal duties and they receive no separate remuneration for this work). The corporation has no employees. Information on the number of meetings the board has had since 1998 is not readily available, but the board currently meets at least twice a year. The directors of the corporation are required to prepare an annual report and accounts. The corporation's directors and financial position are fully stated in its annual report and accounts for 2009-10, which was laid before Parliament on 20 July 2010. Details for previous years' activity are set out in the corporation's earlier annual reports and accounts, which have also been deposited in the House Libraries. With regards to the number of times the members of the British Shipbuilders Corporation have met since 1998, we do not have this information readily to hand. We are currently investigating. My noble friend Lady Wilcox will write to the noble Lord, and a copy of her letter will be placed in the Library of the House My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills announced on 19 July 2010 that the British Shipbuilders Corporation will be abolished next year—as part of the process to cut the number of BIS quangos. The health-related liabilities of the corporation will be transferred to BIS, which will continue to meet them consistently in line with the relevant legal obligations.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

1910; 720 c432-3WA

Session

2010-12

Notes

Answer received between Monday 2 August and Monday 9 August 2010.

Subjects

Membership British Shipbuilders Corporation

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk