§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what tendering procedures were carried out by Highlands and Islands Enterprise prior to the awarding of a contract to Ernst and Young, to perform the former functions of Highlands and Islands Enterprise's management unit.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonHighlands and Islands Enterprise carefully considered the experience of locally established firms and concluded that negotiations concentrating on value for money would be more appropriate than tendering. Discussions with Ernst and Young were conducted on this basis.