§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the cost of(a) providing and (b) erecting obelisks in memory of Teesside Development Corporation at sites in Teesside. [53394]
§ Mr. Caborn£151,000.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on the structural problem identified in the Tees Barrage and ancillary works by external consultations appointed by the Teesside Development Corporation; [53444]
(2) if he will make a statement on the current contractual obligations of the main contractors for the Tees Barrage. [53393]
§ Mr. CabornThese matters are now the responsibility of the Commission for the New Towns. I will write to my hon. Friend when I have made further inquiries.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will ensure that the audit of the accounts of Teesside Development Corporation for the year ended 31 March includes a full financial and technical audit of the TDC's activities over its lifespan and is made public. [53360]
§ Mr. CabornThe audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 1998 were published earlier this month.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the members of(a) the newly formed Teesside Environmental Trust and (b) its board and their former links with the Teesside Development Corporation; [53446]
440W(2) if he will investigate the contractual agreements made between the Teesside Environmental Trust, the Teesside Development Corporation and Messrs H. J. Banks Ltd in the last three months of the Teesside Development Corporation's life. [53445]
§ Mr. CabornI will write to my hon. Friend.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the cost of the press and television advertising campaign that the Teesside Development Corporation undertook in the last six months of its life. [53395]
§ Mr. CabornThese costs were contained within the approved marketing budget of the Corporation.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will investigate the links between former employees of Teesside Development Corporation, the Hartlepool Marina and the projected tall ships centre; [53397]
(2) if he will investigate the links between Mandale Properties Ltd. and former employees of Teesside Development Corporation. [53396]
§ Mr. CabornMy right hon. Friend has no reason to do so.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will investigate the arrangements whereby the Teesside Development Corporation arranged loans from a merchant bank via intermediaries for the purposes of funding development at Middlesbrough Docks and at the Teesside Park Retail Centre; and if he will list the size of the loans. [53359]
§ Mr. CabornSuch financial arrangements were a matter for the Board of the Corporation.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will investigate the arrangements for(a) the market testing and (b) the disposal of remaining land within the Teesside Development Corporation's ownership at the Teesdale site and at Hartlepool Marina. [53440]
§ Mr. CabornThese arrangements were a matter for the Board of the Development Corporation and are now the responsibility of its successor, the Commission for the New Towns.