§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the reception proposed by the Scottish Office to mark the completion of the wind-up of Scotland's development corporations; which Ministers will be attending the reception; when and where the reception will be held; who has been invited to attend; how many are expected to attend the reception; what entertainment will be provided; if commemorative items will be dispensed at the reception; and how much will be spent on the event. [12875]
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 27 January 1997]: I invited representatives of Livingston, Cumbernauld and Irvine new town development corporations to a reception in the great hall, Edinburgh castle on Friday 31 January 1997. The purpose of the reception was to acknowledge the splendid work done by the corporations since they were set up. Each of the corporations was represented by board members, former board members and senior staff past and present. Sixty-five guests attended the reception and the total cost was £803.
The Scottish Office arranged only a reception: dinner was not provided, there was no entertainment and no commemorative items were dispensed. A similar reception was held in December 1995 to mark the wind-up of the East Kilbride and Glenrothes new town development corporations.