§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidelines he has issued to United Kingdom diplomatic and consular staff concerning the activities and work of Locate in Scotland in north America; what communication there has been with the United States Government following the public comments of the United Kingdom consul general in San Francisco on the work of Locate in Scotland and other inward investment agencies; what clarification the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has issued on the role of the United Kingdom inward investment agencies following those comments; and what discussions have been held as a consequence regarding a new policy towards United Kingdom inward investment agencies. [28700]
§ Mr. GoodladAll overseas commercial posts have guidelines on co-operation with Locate in Scotland as well as the equivalent organisations for Wales and Northern Ireland. Together with the Invest in Britain Bureau and English regional agencies, these organisations are members of the Committee on Overseas Promotion, which co-ordinates the promotion of inward investment into the United Kingdom.
No clarification of those guidelines, nor a change of policy, is necessary. The question of a communication with the United States Administration does not arise.