§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland further to the Lord Advocate's letter of 24 July172W 1995, what evidence he has that one of the new trustees of the Algrade Trust has a background in the specialist teaching of people with learning difficulties. [3338]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe evidence comes from an account of the qualifications of the new trustees given by their legal advisers. One of the trustees is Mrs. Ethel Marsh, Dip.C.E. who was head teacher of the James Gillespie school between 1976 and 1993. This lady was the convenor of the primary, nursery and special section of the Lothian Head Teachers Association involving the educational needs for pupils with special learning difficulties.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the investigation of the affairs of the Algrade Trust by the Scottish Charities Office, with special reference to the underspending of money paid to the trust for the care and accommodation of handicapped people; the expenditure by the trust on the purchase of properties and the conveyancing of property purchased with trust funds to other parties. [3339]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Scottish Charities Office continues to make inquiries into the past circumstances of the Algrade Trust, including its accounting and expenditure as well as the purchase and conveyance of properties. The nature and extent of these inquiries is such that it will be some time before they are completed and the results are known.