§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied that the Clothing Industry Resources Productivity Agency acts in a fair manner in relation to private competitive consultants.
§ Mr. MacGregorCIPRA operates within the remit given to it by the Clothing Economic Development Committee. I am not aware of any evidence that CIPRA is unfairly gaining specific assignments at the expense of private competitive consultants.
§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will wind up the Clothing Industry Resources Productivity Agency.
§ Mr MacGregorCIPRA is a company limited by guarantee, and the Government are not in a position to wind it up. Continuation of the Government's grant-in-aid to CIPRA is subject to a review which will be undertaken shortly.
§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Industry what proposals the Clothing Industry Resources Productivity Agency has to help existing consultants to develop their capabilities.
§ Mr. MacGregorCIPRA is always willing to work with other consultants provided mutually acceptable financial arrangements can be reached. I understand that outside consultants have so far been used by CIPRA on 18 assignments.
§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many assignments the Clothing Industry Resources Productivity Agency has passed to other organisations to carry out; and what is the total cost of these assignments.
§ Mr. MacGregorI am told that other consultants and organisations have been used by CIPRA on 18 assignments worth £56,000. There have been a number of other cases where CIPRA has referred inquirers to outside organisations, but precise records of such cases are not kept.
§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Industry how much of the work undertaken by the Clothing Industry Resources Productivity Agency could be undertaken by existing consultants.
§ Mr. MacGregorIn principle some of CIPRA's activities could probably be carried out by existing consultants. In practice, however, it is not possible to say to what extent clothing firms using CIPRA's services would be prepared to turn to other bodies to fill the gap if CIPRA did not exist.
§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Industry what public funds have been spent by the Clothing Industry Resources Productivity Agency in the present financial year; and what proportion the agency has spent on (a) promoting other consultants, (b) promoting the agency and (c) establishing the agency consultancy.
§ Mr. MacGregorGrant-in-aid of £50,000 has been paid to CIPRA in the current financial year. This grant is not tied to any of the specific activities of CIPRA, but goes towards the general costs of running the agency.