HC Deb 27 July 1999 vol 336 c310W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 14 July 1999,Official Report, column 212-13, if he will make it his Department's practice to continue contacts and routinely record data and subsequent developments in the case of companies where rejection of applications for regional selective assistance have led to the cancellation of proposed investment projects. [92806]

Mr. Wills

I have no such plans. This is not always practicable and would increase the costs of administering the scheme.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if members of industrial development advisory committees are permitted to speak to hon. Members prior to the consideration of applications for regional selective assistance. [92858]

Mr. Wills

There are no restrictions on members of the Industrial Development Advisory Board and the Regional Industrial Development Boards which would prohibit them from speaking to hon. Members. As an application for regional selective assistance is a commercially confidential matter, it would be inappropriate for board members to comment on particular company applications.