§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade on what occasions Mr. A, whose name has been supplied to him, advised the DTI on Synex Ltd.'s application for regional selective assistance. [6236]
88W
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 27 November 1996]: In respect of the application by Synex Ltd. Mr. A provided written accountancy advice on three occasions, through reports dated 7 January 1995, 19 January 1995 and 22 February 1995. Mr. A however ceased to be retained by the Department as an advisor before appraisal of all aspects of the case was completed. The accountancy aspects of the case were therefore fully reviewed by the Department's central industrial development unit.
§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade on what dates the South-West industrial development board discussed the application of Synex Ltd. for regional selective assistance; and which members were present. [6229]
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 27 November 1996]: The application was referred to at five meetings of the board. Three of these, on 21 December 1994, 12 April 1995 and 28 June 1995, were simply reports on the receipt of the application or its progress. The application was discussed substantially at two meetings held on 25 January 1995 and 22 February 1995 when the board members present were as follows:
25 January 1995
- Mr. R. Harris (Chairman)
- Mr. N. Falls
- Mr. P. Gregory
- Mr. M. Jordan
- Mr. A. Loze
22 February 1995
- Mr. R. Harris (Chairman)
- Mr. N. Falls
- Mr. P. Gregory
- Mr. M. Jordan
- Mr. A. Loze
- Mr. V. Parsons
§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what declarations of interest(a) Mr. B and (b) Mr. C, whose names have been supplied to him, made at meetings of the South-West industrial development board to discuss the application of Synex Ltd. for regional selective assistance; and on which occasions they left meetings where a conflict of interest might arise. [6235]
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 27 November 1996]: It is not recorded that Mr. B made a declaration of interest in the application by Synex Ltd.
At the meeting of the SWIDB held on 21 December 1994 members were informed about an imminent application from Synex Ltd. Mr. C declared immediately he had an interest in the case. Mr. C did not attend the meeting on 25 January 1995 when the application by Synex Ltd. was first substantively discussed, and absented himself from the discussion which took place on 22 February. The two subsequent meetings on 12 April and 28 June were essentially updating the board about progress of the case and it was not felt necessary for Mr. C to withdraw.
89W
§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what factors underlay the decisions by(a) DTI South-East to award a regional selective assistance grant to Synex Ltd. and (b) DTI South-West to refuse such a grant; [6232]
(2) what factors underlay the refusal by his Department's south-west office to award a regional selective assistance grant to Synex Ltd. [6233]
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 27 November 1996]: Each application for regional selective assistance is determined on its merits against the common criteria for the scheme, which are explained in the Department's brochure, "Investing in the Assisted Areas", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The project as presented to Government office SW was judged not to have satisfied the criteria.