§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the minutes of meetings of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council. [97105]
§ Mr. CabornThe Export Guarantees Advisory Council (EGAC) primarily provides advice on the Export Credits Guarantee Department's country risk assessments and cover policy proposals.
The minutes of the EGAC are not published because these assessments contain frank analysis of the political and economic prospects of many of our trading partners, disclosure of which could be market sensitive. Public disclosure of the minutes could also inhibit the frank discussion of the risk assessments and thus reduce the quality of independent advice provided by Members.
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out the procedures the Export Credit Guarantee Department uses when it appoints members of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council. [97103]
§ Mr. CabornAppointments to the Export Guarantees Advisory Council (EGAC) are made in accordance with guidance laid down by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
A panel comprising the ECGD Chief Executive and two Independent Assessors selects a shortlist of candidates to recommend to my hon. Friend the Minster for Trade. Members appointed provide their time on a voluntary basis and would normally expect to serve a term of three years.
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the occasions since 1 May 1997 when he has asked for advice from the Export Guarantees Advisory Council in respect of matters relating to the operation of the Export Credit Guarantee Department. [97102]
§ Mr. CabornThe Export Guarantees Advisory Council (EGAC) has met 25 times since 1 May 1997. It meets between 9 and 11 times a year to provide advice to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The EGAC is established pursuant to Section 13 of the Export and Investment Guarantees Act 1991.
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list(a) the instances since 1 May 1997 when members of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council have absented themselves from a meeting because an area in which they have declared an interest is under discussion, (b) the names of the council members concerned and (c) the items under discussion. [97104]
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§ Mr. CabornMembers of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council are obliged to declare any interest which is then noted in the official record of the meeting. They are not required to absent themselves from the meeting when an interest has been declared.
The Council's main role is to consider ECGD's country risk assessments and recommendations—which determine whether ECGD should be on or off cover for particular markets.
Since 1 May 1997, Members have declared an interest on the following occasions:
Declarations of Interest—Export Guarantees Advisory Council Meeting Name Item under discussion 1998 March Mr. G. Lynch Review of Overseas Investment Insurance (OII) May Mr. D. Harrison Turkey 1999 May Mr. P. Mason Zimbabwe July Ms L. Airey Turkey Mr. P. Mason September Mr. D. Harrison OII—Cover for Porfolio Loans