§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he was consulted about the write-off of money due to the Scottish Development Agency by KS Properties Ltd; what steps he is taking to recover the money; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StewartThe Scottish Office approved in June 1990 a request by the then Scottish Development Agency to write off the sum of £40,084, being the balance of a loan owed to the agency by KS Construction Limited. The agency earlier wrote off £4,900 in interest accrued on the loan. These actions followed the company entering into receivership. Writing off of debt is a step taken only where the debt is judged irrecoverable.
If my hon. Friend requires further details about this matter, which was essentially an operational matter for the 458W Scottish Development Agency, I am sure that the chairman of the agency's successor body, Scottish Enterprise, would be pleased to attempt to assist him.