§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the arrangements are for remunerating the members of Industrial Development Advisory Boards for expenses that arise in the exercise of their duties. [90659]
§ Mr. WillsMembers of the Industrial Development Advisory Board and the Regional Industrial Development Boards are entitled to claim travel and subsistence210W expenses incurred in attending Board meetings or on visits on behalf of the Board. Expenses are reimbursed at the rates applicable to senior civil servants.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the policy of his Department is on decisions taken by members of the Industrial Development Advisory Boards which do not reflect the priorities of his Department. [90665]
§ Mr. WillsThe Regional Industrial Development Boards are kept informed of the Departments priorities, eg as most recently set out in the Competitiveness White Paper (Cmnd. 4176). My colleagues and I consider carefully the advice of the Regional Industrial Development Boards before reaching our decisions on regional selective assistance applications.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what procedures his Department follows to ensure that conflicts of interest cannot arise in the case of the(a) members of the Industrial Development Advisory Boards and (b) those who advise them. [90666]
§ Mr. WillsIn the case of members of the Industrial Development Advisory Board and the Regional Industrial Development Boards, guidance from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments is followed to ensure that any potential conflict of interest is recognised.
Officials who advise Board members are bound by the Civil Service Code which states that civil servants should not misuse their official position or information acquired in the course of their official duties to further their private interests or those of others.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will amend the membership criteria of the Industrial Development Advisory Boards to include representatives of elected bodies, trade union organisations and sub-regional development organisations. [90657]
§ Mr. WillsThe Industrial Development Advisory Board is appointed under Section 10 of the Industrial Development Act 1982. By virtue of Section 10(3) of the Act, the Board is to include
persons who appear to the Secretary of State to have wide experience of, and to have shown capacity in, industry, banking, accounting and finance".The Chairman and members of the Regional Industrial Development Boards (RIDBs) are selected for their regional knowledge of industry and commerce. I have made it clear that the RIDBs should take account of the strategic economic focus which is being provided by the new Regional Development Agencies in giving their advice on regional selective assistance cases.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidance he has given the Industrial Development Advisory Boards on responding to approaches from hon. Members prior to the consideration of applications for regional selective assistance. [90667]
§ Mr. WillsHon. Members should approach my colleagues and me on issues which they consider relevant to an application for regional selective assistance.