Examination of Witnesses (Questions 7900
- 7919)
7900. CHAIRMAN: Are there any points
in re-examination?
7901. MR MONRO: No, my Lord.
The witness withdrew
7902. CHAIRMAN: In that case that is
coffee time. Quarter of an hour.
After a short break
7903. MR SCOTT: My Lord Chairman, I think
at this point we are going to suggest that you make a visit to
the table over here before Mr Clive Richardson takes a seat as
a witness.
7904. CHAIRMAN: Even before that I wondered
if we could do a little clarification. I strongly suspect that
on the question of making sure that the plasterwork in the building
is not damaged there is very little between you and the Promoters,
if anything, except that there will have to be detailed examinations
and works and so on planned and executed. I gather that in your
Petition dust is no longer an issue that you want to pursue.
7905. MR SCOTT: The Promoters have sought
to reassure us that steps will be taken to mitigate the dust risk.
7906. CHAIRMAN: That is one of these
arrangements that have been made which will bind the nominated
undertaker. I therefore wondered what else there was in your Petition
that you want to pursue. Of course we will come and look at it.
7907. MR SCOTT: My Lord Chairman, the
situation, as you have already been told by Mr Mould, is that
negotiations had been taking place even up to this morning to
resolve the issues.
7908. CHAIRMAN: That is what coffee is
for!
7909. MR SCOTT: One of the things that
has been a matter of concern to your Petitioners has been the
provisions in the proposed agreement between us and the Promoter
for the assignment of that agreement by the Promoter, and that
is matched in the Bill by a provision at Clause 46 and Schedule
12 for transfers. Your Petitioners recognise that current government
intentions in relation to any such transfers—
7910. CHAIRMAN: Which paragraph of your
Petition deals with that?
7911. MR SCOTT: At the end, " ...
other clauses and provisions necessary for the protection and
benefit of your Petitioners and their rights and interests that
are omitted from the Bill."
7912. CHAIRMAN: Which paragraph?
7913. MR SCOTT: Paragraph 18, my Lord.
7914. CHAIRMAN: That is the general clear-up
paragraph.
7915. MR SCOTT: Yes. The background has
been that in the negotiation we have been negotiating an agreement
with the Promoter which has this assignment provision in it and
the concern has been that if an assignment and a transfer were
made to a body that then became insolvent what safeguards—
7916. CHAIRMAN: You are not going to
become insolvent!
7917. MR SCOTT: No. We are quite likely
to become insolvent, my Lord!
7918. CHAIRMAN: I see!
7919. MR SCOTT: The trustees' concern
is what happens if the liabilities undertaken by the Promoter
are transferred to a body that then becomes insolvent. Mr Mould
has been seeking to reassure us in relation to the intention of
the government—and he may wish to cover this point in relation
to the ongoing liability of the Promoter because of undertakings
made during this Bill process, my Lord.
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