§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which of his departments is responsible for the marketing appraisal of the product of a new manufacturing company in Northern Ireland before public money is committed to the project; and how the progress of the project is monitored in order to protect the public interest.
§ Mr. Adam ButlerThe industrial development board for Northern Ireland—IDB—is responsible for all aspects of the appraisal of manufacturing projects for which Government financial assistance is sought. This includes the appraisal of the market for the product concerned. A number of IDB staff have marketing expertise and the IDB also uses marketing consultants where appropriate.
The progress of projects for which Government assistance has been provided is monitored by the IDB's investment management division, on the basis of management information and accounts obtained from companies on a regular basis, supplemented by meetings with management of these companies. In certain major cases external consultants are used by the IDB to complement its own monitoring activities and, in some instances, IDB-nominated non-executive directors are appointed to the company board. In respect of companies employing fewer than 50 people, the local enterprise development unit carries out a similar range of appraisal and monitoring functions.