HC Deb 03 February 2000 vol 343 cc671-2W
Mrs. Browning

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those companies which are under investigation by officials into allegations of misuse of Government grants which were subsidiaries of(a) TransTec plc and (b) Hollis Industries. [108390]

Mr. Byers

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to her on 25 January 2000,Official Report, column 206W.

Mrs. Browning

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if inspectors investigating TransTec plc will issue an interim report. [108388]

Mr. Byers

These are independent inspectors. They can issue an interim report if they wish.

Mrs. Browning

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will revise the guidance he has given to inspectors investigating TransTec plc to include allegations of misuse of his Department's grants awarded to TransTec and its subsidiary companies. [108386]

Mr. Byers

There is no need to do to so as they already have such a power.

Mrs. Browning

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the procedures being followed by his officials investigating allegations of misuse of Government grants awarded to TransTec plc and its subsidiaries. [108389]

Mr. Byers

The Department's inquiries are aimed at establishing the nature and extent of the allegations and the further action that should be taken in relation to those allegations.

Mrs. Browning

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 2000,Official Report, column 205W, what action he plans to take as a result of departmental interviews with Mr. Ayriss and Mr. Dickinson. [108394]

Mr. Byers

The Department's inquiries are still in progress.

Mrs. Browning

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will revise the guidance he has given to inspectors investigating TransTec plc to include the reorganisation of the company in 1991. [108387]

Mr. Byers

As I have already stated on 25 January 2000,Official Report, column 208W, if the independent inspectors conclude that there are matters earlier in the company's history which merit investigation then they have the power to do so.

Mrs. Browning

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 2000,Official Report, column 206W, if he will list the minuted meetings held by his Department and representatives of TransTec plc in (a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997, (d) 1998 and (e) 1999. [108393]

Mr. Byers

The Company Law and Investigations Directorate has had no minuted meetings with representatives of TransTec.