HC Deb 19 November 1997 vol 301 cc190-1W
Mrs. May

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will publish the job specification for the Chairman of Action 2000.[16136]

Mrs. Roche

The statement of his particular responsibilities is reproduced below(a) To appoint the other members of the Advisory Board. The choice of members will be your decision, but you will consider including representatives of:

  • CBI
  • FEI
  • CSSA
  • BBA
  • NCC
  • IEE
  • and Business Links
and you will consult the organisations concerned. In addition you may appoint up to seven additional members, drawn mainly from the private sector. Before you make any appointments you should consult the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

(b). To advise the Secretary of State and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on the state of preparedness of the private sector—particularly in key sectors identified by them—and to make such contribution to their work on contingency planning as they may require.

(c). To advise the Secretary of State whether the DTI should offer funding to organisations other than the Company.

(d). To draw up, agree with the Secretary of State, and implement through the Company a costed programme of collective activities—Action 2000—to support businesses in the private sector in their efforts to tackle the century date problem.

(e). To appoint a Director, other board members and staff of the Company. The Director will be appointed after consulting the Secretary of State and after considering a number of candidates on a competitive basis.

(f). Expenditure on activities under the agreed costed programme will be disbursed by the CTI, on advice from you or the Director, acting on behalf of the Advisory Board."