§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the experience and qualifications of Dr. Joan Firth are to carry out the role of independent assessor in the appointment of the Board of the North West Regional Development Agency. [93232]
§ Mr. MealeDr. Joan Firth, a former Grade 3, Deputy Director of Finance, in the Department of Health, was acting chair of Bradford NHS Trust at the time she acted as independent assessor in the appointment of the Board of the North West Regional Development Agency. She had had recent experience of appointing NHS Board Members in the North East.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if officers of the North West Regional Development Agency have discussed with board member the merit of projects and bids supported by that Agency where a board member has had what subsequently turned out to be a conflict of interest. [93446]
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many premises are owned by the North West Regional Development Agency on the Lakeland Business Park at Cockermouth; what is the total rent received per annum; and what is the total square footage. [93224]
§ Mr. MealeThere are seven premises (blocks) which are sub-divided into units and let to the list of tenants which is given in another answer to my hon. Friend today at columns 342-44.
Area (sq. ft.) Rent (principal) (£) Block 1 5,135 NWDA Block 2 4,459 20,025 Block 3 5,630 22,750 Block 4 4,816 19,521 Block 5 4,769 20,111 Block 6 4,885 9,616 Block 7 7,946 51,451 Total 37,640 143,474
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if, in the consideration of business by the North West Regional Development Agency, members of the board decided for themselves whether a conflict of interest exists. [93444]
§ Mr. MealeIn accordance with the North West Development Regional Agency Standing Orders, Board Members determine if they have an interest in any particular matter and declare it accordingly.
342W
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the North West Regional Development Agency is supporting commercial developments in the North West of England which are in any way linked to the business interests of members of the North West Development Agency; and what is the value in pounds sterling of the support being provided in each case. [93442]
§ Mr. MealeThe North West Regional Development Agency inherited from English Partnerships a project under which Westmorland Motorway Services Limited are receiving a grant of £947,920 towards the Hills of the North Project.
Mr. John Dunning is the member with business interest linked to this project.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if, in the consideration of the SRB bids, any members of the board of the North West Regional Development Agency were required or offered to stand aside on the basis of conflict of interest. [93443]
§ Mr. MealeWhen the North West Regional Development Board was discussing the proposed SRB bids, Members with an interest in any particular bid left the meeting prior to it being discussed. Each Board meeting agenda contains a reminder to this effect.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the register of interests applicable in the case of the North West Regional Development Agency. [93228]
§ Mr. MealeThe Register of Members Interests is available for inspection at the Headquarters in Warrington and will be published in the North West Regional Development Agency's Annual Report.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many visits overseas have been made by officers of the North West Regional Development Agency since the establishment of the Agency; to which countries; and at what cost to the taxpayer. [93227]
§ Mr. MealeSince 1 April 1999 there have been 10 overseas visits made by officers of the North West Regional Development Agency. The countries visited were: Belgium, Japan, Ireland, Austria, Germany, France, U.S.A. The cost of these visits totals £4,381.50.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will permit access by hon. Members to the data held by the Government Office of the North-West relating to nomination to the Board of the North West Regional Development Agency; [93229]
(2) if he will list the persons Dr. Joan Firth interviewed for possible appointment to the Board of the North West Regional Development Agency. [93233]
§ Mr. MealeDetails of the appointees to the North West Regional Development Agency were made public in the press notice at the time of their appointment, in line with the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments', in line with the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments' guidelines. However, under exemption 8b (Public Employments, 343W Public Appointments and Honours) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, details of the other candidates cannot be released for reasons of confidentiality. This also applies to the details of those nominated by outside bodies.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many visits overseas have been made by board members of the North West Regional Development Agency since the establishment of the Agency; to which countries; and at what cost to the taxpayer. [93226]
§ Mr. MealeThe Chairman of the Board has made two overseas visits. They were to Japan (cost £3,573) and Brussels (£639).
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what dates since the appointment of officers to the Shadow North West Regional Development Agency and since the formal establishment of the North West Regional Development Agency, officers of the Agency have met members of Cumbria Tourist Board. [93445]
§ Mr. MealeSince the North West Regional Development Agency was established in December 1998 there have been no formal meetings between officers of the Agency and members of the Cumbria Tourist Board in their capacity as members of the Board.