§ Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the businesses in which the Highlands and Islands Development Board has invested since its establishment, giving for each (a) the total value of the investment made, (b) the revenue received from the investment, (c) the money received from any disposals of part or all of the investment, (d) the estimated current value of the remaining investment, and (e) whether the business ceased trading during the time the Highlands and Islands Development Board had a financial interest in it.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe information requsted is either not available or could be produced in the detail desired only at disproportionate cost, but a list of the companies in which the board has invested, together with, for each class of share, the total value at the beginning of the year, the total value of additions, transfers, disposals and amount written off and an aggregate figure for losses and diminution in value for all classes can be obtained from the board's annual reports and accounts covering 1978 and subsequent years. Earlier annual reports do not distinguish between classes of shares. Copies of the board's annual reports and accounts are available in the Library of the House. The Companies Registration Office can provide information on businesses which have ceased trading.