§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the contract for research and development for the DMC 12 motorcar with Lotus Cars Ltd. is with the De Lorean Company or the research partnership; and what rights the De Lorean Company has over the research partnership.
§ Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 12 March 1979; Vol. 964, c. 85], gave the following information:
The contract with Lotus Cars Ltd. for the development of the DMC 12 car is with the De Lorean Research Partnership Ltd., in which the De Lorean Motor Car Company is the sole general partner.
The De Lorean Motor Car Company and the research partnership have an agreement that the research partnership will grant to the De Lorean Motor Car Company a licence of its rights relating to a production of the DMC 12 car.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the reason for the division of the private capital in the De Lorean project between the De Lorean company and a research partnership.
§ Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 12 March 1979; Vol. 503W 964, c. 86], gave the following information:
The capital for the first phase of the De Lorean project—basic research and development—was raised privately by means of a research partnership, before the decision was taken to produce the car in Northern Ireland. For details of the funding of the second phase—production of the DMC 12 car—I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. MacGregor) on 15 November 1978 [Vol. 958, c. 262.]
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what degree of scrutiny by the Department of Commerce and the Northern Ireland Development Agency exists over the research partnership formed to complete the De Lorean research and development programme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 12 March 1979; Vol. 964, c. 85], gave the following information:
The Department of Commerce does not exercise any direct scrutiny over the De Lorean Research Partnership Limited, but the Northern Ireland Development Agency, through its two nominated directors on the board of the De Lorean Motor Car Company, is in a position to monitor all aspects of the development of the De Lorean project.