§ Mr. GouldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what grounds, and on the basis of what material and information, he reached his decision to dismiss Mr. John Mills as deputy chairman of the London368W Docklands development corporation; whether the grounds for the decision were communicated to Mr. Mills; and if he had an opportunity to comment on those grounds.
§ Mr. TrippierMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of state removed Mr. Mills from office under the powers of paragraph 6(d) of schedule 26 of the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980 because he was satisfied that he was unsuitable to continue as a member of the board of the LDDC.
The only material and information taken into account were statements made by Mr. Mills before his appointment; the information he then disclosed; and the information he has provided to the chairman of the LDDC and the Department of the Environment following a recent interview for television in which the chairman was asked if he knew of Mr. Mills' involvement in two liquidations and of his convictions under consumer protection legislation.
On the afternoon of 30 November, and before he was dismissed by the Secretary of State, Mr. Mills was seen at the Department of the Environment. He was told at the meeting that questions of his candour and judgment arose and given an opportunity to enlarge on the material he had provided; to offer explanations; and to say what he wished about past events and his future as deputy chairman.