§ 26. Mr. JamiesonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the decision of the South West industrial development board not to award a regional selective assistance grant to Synex Ltd. in July 1995. [19469]
§ Mr. Greg KnightThe role of regional industrial development boards, such as the SWIDB, is to provide independent advice on applications for RSA. The decision whether or not to award a grant rests solely with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who in the south-west is represented by officials at the Government office for the south-west. Each application for regional selective assistance is determined on its merits against the common criteria for the scheme. The project as presented to GOSW was judged not to have satisfied the criteria and therefore the GOSW properly decided in May 1995 not to award a grant to Synex. This decision was confirmed in July 1995 following an appeal by the applicant.