Plan for shipyards

I would like to clarify some misconceptions in Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott's column (The Sunday Times, June 29). The General Workers' Union (GWU) plan for the shipyards is mostly, but not wholly, based on the Appledore Plan of 1997. Even where it is, it has been revised to fit in today's circumstances. This is explicitly stated in the report.

The plan covers technical, comm-ercial, administrative and other aspects of the Shipyards at the various levels. It does not, though, refer to whether the yard is privatised or not. In fact, the GWU stated publicly that the plan is relevant in any scenario. That is truly aimed to achieve the necessary progress. It is very fair to state here that the plan has now been made public and no challenge has been received on its contents by anybody to date, the government and Prof. Serracino Inglott included.