HC Deb 04 July 1995 vol 263 cc143-4W
Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the 12 members of the Scottish Development Advisory Board in 1988 and the six who attended when the decision was made to back the HCI hospital; and if he will give their qualifications and occupation. [31357]

Mr. Kynoch

The Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board is established under section 10 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 to advise the Secretary of State for Scotland in respect of his functions in relation to selective financial assistance under section 7 and 8 of that Act. The Act stipulates that "The members of the Board shall include persons who appear to the Secretary of State to have wide experience of, and to have shown capacity in, industry, banking, accounting and finance."

An application for assistance made by Health Care International (Scotland) Ltd. was considered at the board's meeting on 12 April 1988. The board's then membership was:

Member's name and professional qualifications Occupational background
Mr. Yaqub Ali Wholesale distribution
Mr. Keith Fox Textile industry
Mr. Thomas Johnston Precision engineering
Mr. Barrie F. Lawson Electrical and electronic engineering
Mr. John M. Little, CA ACMA Mining equipment industry
Mr. Duncan J. MacLeod, CA Accountancy and finance
Mr. Austin Merrills Metal industry
Mr. David Paterson Banking, Insurance and Finance Trade Union
Professor John C. Shaw, FRSE CA FCMA MBCS Accounting and finance
Mr. Alan K. Smith, F Eng FI Mech E F Weld I Engineering
Sir Robert Smith, CA (Chairman) Accounting, finance and investment
Mr. Robert Thomson General, Municipal Boilermakers and Allied Trades Union

Of these Mr. Ali, Mr. Little Mr. MacLeod, Mr. Paterson, Sir Robert Smith and Mr. Thomson attended the meeting on 12 April 1988, although Mr. MacLeod withdrew when the Health Care International (Scotland) Ltd. application was discussed since his firm was acting as an adviser to the company.