HC Deb 30 January 1996 vol 270 cc672-3W
Mrs. Roche

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the members of each business links board. [11961]

Mr. Page

[holding answer 29 January 1996]: The information requested is not available. It could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what requirements are placed on business links to publish their membership; [11958]

(2) what requirement there is on business links to ensure that members of their boards include those working in firms with (a) under 50 employees, (b) 20 employees, and (c) 10 employees; [11960]

(3) in what form the membership of the boards of business links is published. [11949]

Mr. Page

[holding answers 29 January 1996]: Business link proposals to be considered by the business link national assessment panel have details of board membership, giving names and company details, where known. Business links inform training and enterprise councils in their area of business link board membership. Although there are no formal requirements to publish their membership, most business links are required to register board membership with Companies House as private limited companies by guarantee.

Guidance on board membership is given in the October 1994 supplement to the business link prospectus. This states that the business link board should have a majority of members from private sector businesses.