HC Deb 18 April 2002 vol 383 cc1109-10W
Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what role Mr. Shaun Harte played on behalf of the British Government; if he will place the terms of reference for his appointment in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [34321]

Dr. John Reid

There is no record of Mr. Harte having been employed by the British Government at any time.

Shaun Harte was employed by the Northern Ireland Development Agency, a statutory agency, from 1978 to 1979. During that period, he was nominated by the Northern Ireland Development Agency to serve as a non-executive member of the De Lorean Motors Ltd. board. We are informed by the devolved Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment that, given the passage of time since then, Mr. Harte's employment records are no longer available. He died in 1999.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the dates of the meetings and contacts that(a) special advisers and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with Mr. Shaun Harte since 2 May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [34325]

Dr. John Reid

There is no record of any such meetings or contacts having taken place.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library the information that his Department received from Mr. Roy Parker regarding Mr. Shaun Harte; and if he will make a statement. [34322]

Dr. John Reid

Roy Parker made a number of allegations against Shaun Harte and former directors of Mackie International Group. These were investigated by the Serious Fraud Office, who found no evidence of any impropriety which could lead them to take any action against the company, its former directors or its auditors.