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Research Councils
Mr. Ingram: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what research council category have been allocated to Scotland in each of the last three years; and what figures are projected for the next three years. [26331]
Mr. Ian Taylor [holding answer 23 April 1996]: Research council expenditure in Scotland was as follows:
| Research council | 1993-94 | 1994-95 |
|---|---|---|
| BBSRC | -- | 21.1 |
| ESRC | 5.2 | 4.8 |
| EPSRC | -- | 32.0 |
| MRC | 33.6 | 32.7 |
| NERC | 14.3 | 10.4 |
| PPARC | -- | 10.4 |
| CCLRC | -- | -- |
| AFRC | 10.5 | -- |
| SERC | 45.8 | -- |
| Total | 109.4 | 111.4 |
Figures for 1995-96 are not yet available, and a meaningful projection of Scotland's allocation for the next three years cannot be made as a significant proportion of the funding, comprising grants to higher education institutions and postgraduate studentships, depends on the number of successful Scottish grant applications that are made in this period.
The Agricultural and Food Research Council and the Science and Engineering Research Council ceased to exist in April 1994. The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council came into being on 1 April 1994. The Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils came into being on 1 April 1995.
29 Apr 1996 : Column: 365
Mr. Ingram:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of future employment levels in the manufacturing sector; and if he will make a statement. [27000]
Mr. Lang:
Manufacturing employment rose in February and more than 50,000 extra jobs have been created since the beginning of 1994. Both the British Chambers of Commerce and the Institute of Directors have reported that firms expect to increase employment over the next four months.
Mr. Jamieson:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if (a) members of his Department's regional industrial development boards and (b) other advisers are required to register and record personal financial interests in companies (i) at the date of appointment to the board or to an advisory position and (ii) in circumstances where companies in which a financial interest is held apply for Department of Trade and Industry financial assistance.[25609]
Mr. Oppenheim
[holding answer 19 April 1996]: Yes.
Mr. Jamieson:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what financial assistance, including loan guarantees, has been given by his Department since 1980 to South West Leisure Products Ltd. by (a) type of assistance and (b) date, including month. [24647]
Mr. Oppenheim
[holding answer 16 April 1996]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 29 February 1996, Official Report, column 676, which was however confused by a typographical error in the Official Report.
South West Leisure Products Ltd. received regional selective assistance totalling £23,068 in January and October 1985 and regional development grant totalling £66,900 between 1985 and February 1988.
Two loans to the company were guaranteed under the loan guarantee scheme in August 1986.
Mr. Jamieson:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what role was played by (i) Mr. Kenneth Holmes and (ii) Mr. Michael Jordan in the granting of DTI financial assistance to (a) Pan Atlantia (UK) plc, (b) Van Pieters Ltd., (c) Portcurno Management Company Ltd., (d) South West Farm Processors Ltd., (e) ROM-Data Ltd., (f) Dellcourts Ltd. and (g) Character Ceramics Ltd.[22573]
Mr. Oppenheim
[holding answer 25 March 1996]: Kenneth Holmes, acting as an external accountancy adviser, advised the Department on regional selective assistance applications from Porthcurno Management Company Ltd. and ROM-Data Ltd. Although he did not advise the Department on the offers made to Character Ceramics Ltd. in 1992 and 1993, he did advise on an earlier application from the business when trading as Rodelco China.
The regional selective assistance to South West Farm Processors Ltd. was considered by the South West industrial development board while Kenneth Holmes was
29 Apr 1996 : Column: 366
the chairman of SWIDB, but before he became an external adviser to the Department. Because of a conflict of interest, Mr. Holmes absented himself from the discussion in March 1990 at which the SWIDB decided to recommend the grant.
Michael Jordan was a member of SWIDB when it considered the application by Porthcurno Management Company Ltd.--although an offer was subsequently made to the company, it went into liquidation without any grant payments being made.
Neither Kenneth Holmes nor Michael Jordan advised the Department on the grants made to Pan Atlantia (UK) Ltd. or Van Pieters plc. No financial assistance was sought by Dellcourts Ltd. under any of the Department's principal regional, enterprise or technology schemes.
Mr. Jamieson:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those employees or others giving advice in any capacity in his Department's south-west regional office who took part in the assessment of (a) the regional selective assistance grant in 1993 and (b) any other financial assistance made to Pendennis Shipyard Ltd. Falmouth since 1985. [21187]
Mr. Oppenheim
[holding answer 18 March 1996]: Departmental officials principally involved in the assessment of the regional selective assistance grant application in 1993 were John Bowder, then regional director; David Johnson, the deputy regional director; Mike Twomey and Kris Bale, also both of the regional office; and David Reams, economics and statistics division. Kenneth Holmes, an external accountancy adviser, was also involved in the assessment.
The case was also considered by the South West industrial development board.
No other assistance has been paid to Pendennis Shipyard Ltd. under the Department's principal regional, economic or technology schemes during the period mentioned.
Mr. Jamieson:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what role Mr. Michael Jordan performed in (a) the granting of the regional selective grants to Pendennis Shipyard Ltd., Falmouth in (i) 1993 and (ii) 1995 and (b) the loan in 1994 to Queensbury International Ltd., Plymouth. [22567]
Mr. Oppenheim
[holding answer 25 March 1996]: In respect of the 1993 grant to Pendennis Shipyard Ltd., I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 22 March 1996, Official Report, column 373. The company received a second tranche of regional selective assistance in 1995, but this was made under the terms of the 1993 offer.
Michael Jordan played no role in the Department's consideration of the 1994 guarantee under the loan guarantee scheme to Queensbury International Ltd.
Mr. Jamieson:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what financial assistance has been given by his Department since 1980 to (a) Marine Projects Ltd., (b) the Renwick Group of companies, (c) Brock's Fireplaces Ltd., (d) Vickring Ltd., (e) K. J. Ward Holdings Ltd., (f) Valetare Ltd. and (g) Devon Conversions Ltd. [22571]
29 Apr 1996 : Column: 367
Mr. Oppenheim
[holding answer 25 March 1996]: Two of the companies have received assistance under the Department's principal regional, enterprise and technology schemes since 1980:
| Company | Scheme | Payment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | |||
| Marine Projects (Plymouth) Ltd. | Regional selective assistance (three projects) | 910,000 | 1984-91 |
| Valetare Ltd. | Consultancy Initiative | 2,379 | 1993 |
Under the loan guarantee scheme, a loan to Renwicks Garages 1982 Ltd.--later trading as Vickring Ltd.--was guaranteed in 1982, and a loan to Renwick Computer Services Ltd. was guaranteed in 1984.
South West Industrial Development Board
Mr. Jamieson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the membership since 1980 of the South West industrial development board, giving full names and dates of birth. [24649]
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 16 April 1996]: The board's membership is published annually in the reports on the Industrial Development Act 1982 which are deposited in the Library of the House.
Mr. Jamieson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the members of his Department's South West industrial development board for each year since 1987. [24207]
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 2 April 1996]: This information is published annually in the reports on the Industrial Development Act, which are deposited in the Library of the House.
Mr. Jamieson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of his Department's South West industrial development board meetings since 1 January 1990. [25607]
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 19 April 1996]: No. Meetings of the regional industrial development boards record commercially confidential advice to Ministers. This has been the practice under all Governments.
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