§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether the trust fund of £200,000 established for Mr. Ivor Hoppe was registered under the Northern Ireland Companies Act or as a charity with the Northern Ireland Department of Finance; and what was the date of registration;
(2) whether the Department of Commerce, when the £200,000 Hoppe trust fund was established, sought advice about the purposes or communicated any advice to Harland and Wolff; and what was the nature of that advice;
(3) on what date the Department of Finance officially endorsed the decision to set up the Hoppe trust fund; and on what date the Department of Commerce officially conveyed the decision to Mr. Hoppe or to his company in Switzerland;
(4) whether he will set out in the Official Report the terms in which the Department of Commerce was authorised 295W to proceed with the Hoppe trust fund and the terms of the letter from the Department of Commerce to Mr. Hoppe or to his company in Switzerland concerning the Hoppe trust fund.
§ Mr. ConcannonI understand that the Government of Northern Ireland were aware that the setting up of the trust fund to which the hon. Gentleman refers was to be a term of the agreement made on 6 July 1971 between Harland and Wolff Ltd. and Shipbuilding Services SA. But the trust fund was established by deed dated 1 November 1971 by Harland and Wolff Ltd. which was then a private sector company. No official endorsement from Northern Ireland Departments was required, and there was no need for the deed to be registered. It is not of course for me to say what advice was sought or tendered by the Northern Ireland Government.