§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, columns 459–60, if Mr. Kenneth Holmes was chairman of his Department's South West industrial development board at the time of (a) the offer and (b) the payment of regional selective assistance to Marine Projects (Plymouth) Ltd. for (i) the first and (ii) the second project. [35264]
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§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 1 July 1996]: Mr. Holmes was a member of the industrial development board from January 1980 and chairman from January 1984 until January 1991. I explained in my answer of 18 June, Official Report, column 460, that he played no role in the granting of regional selective assistance to Marine Projects (Plymouth) Ltd. during that period. But to amplify that answer, Mr. Holmes—in view of potential conflict of interest—saw no departmental papers relating to the applications and absented himself from the relevant board discussions.