HC Deb 16 March 1993 vol 221 cc128-9W
Dr. Marek

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures are used to select the general manager of the St. Helena development agency.

Mr. Garel-Jones

After a tender competition, the Overseas Development Administration retained Pieda, a firm of economic and planning consultants, to help develop St. Helena's Small Industries Authority into a development agency and recommend a general manager.

The consultants' nominee for this proposed position was approved by the Overseas Development Administration and the St. Helena Government. The agency has still be be set up.

Dr. Marek

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the report by Mr. Brian Smith on matters relating to the heritage of St. Helena to be available; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

Mr. Garel-Jones

I expect Mr. Smith's report to be completed by the end of April 1993. The St. Helena Heritage Society and the St. Helena Government jointly commissioned the report. I hope to place a copy in the House of Commons Library.

Dr. Marek

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the number of votes and the percentage they represent of the eligible population on the new electoral roll on St. Helena and the figures for the previous roll.

Mr. Garel-Jones

The new electoral roll is not yet complete.

In the 1989 election the electoral roll comprised 2,532 voters, of whom 1,588 voted. This represented 63 per cent. of those registered to vote.

No figure for the eligible population in 1989 is available but the last census, in 1987, gave a figure of 3,508.