HC Deb 05 February 1998 vol 305 cc778-9W
Mr. Maclean

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what further discussions the Paymaster General has had with the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury since 14 December concerning Orion Trust and TransTec shares; [25533]

(2) what information the Paymaster General has provided to him on the circumstances leading to the transfer of TransTec shares to the Orion Trust on 30 April 1997; [25532]

(3) what reasons the notes to the accounts of Stenbell Ltd. describe the Paymaster General as a beneficiary of the Orion Trust rather than a potential discretionary beneficiary; [25531]

(4) what part the Paymaster General had in the selection of Richmond Corporate Services as trustees of the Orion Trust; [25541]

(5) if the "Geoffrey Robinson personal settlement" financed or guaranteed the money which enabled Stenbell Ltd. to purchase the Paymaster General's TransTec shares. [25530]

Mr. Gordon Brown

[holding answers 26 January 1998]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sevenoaks (Mr. Fallon) on 13 January 1998, Official Report, column 169.

Mr. Maclean

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what letters of wishes the Paymaster General has written to the Orion trustees. [25529]

Mr. Gordon Brown

[holding answer 26 January 1998]: The Paymaster General has complied with the Ministerial Code of Conduct.

Mr. Maclean

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Treasury Press Office received the information that the Paymaster General had suggested to Orion that it buy TransTec shares. [25543]

Mr. Gordon Brown

[holding answer 26 January 1998]: The question refers to the Paymaster General's interview with The Observer on 13 December. As is the standard practice, a Treasury Press Officer was in attendance.