§ Mr. SweeneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the deputy chairman of the Welsh Development Agency. [28438]
§ Mr. RedwoodSolicitors acting on behalf of Dr. Roy Bichan announced yesterday that Dr. Bichan had been informed that the Serious Fraud Office propose to charge him with offences arising from its investigation concerning Butte Mining plc, of which Dr. Bichan was non-executive chairman from September 1987 until December 1988.
Dr. Bichan told me that he intends to contest the charges vigorously, but in doing so he would find it impossible properly to carry out his responsibilities as deputy chairman of the agency, a position he has held since January 1993. I have accepted his resignation with immediate effect. None of the allegations reflects on the WDA or on the contribution which Dr. Bichan has made to the work of the agency.