Strategic Investment Board: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird
asked Her Majesty's Government:

Under what authority the Strategic Investment Board operates in Northern Ireland; to whom it reports; and when; and[HL6643]

Who are the members of the Northern Ireland Strategic Investment Board; when they were appointed; by whom; and on what basis; and[HL6644]

How many employees there are in the Strategic Investment Board in Northern Ireland; how they were appointed and by whom; and what is their community background.[HL6687]

Lord Rooker
The Strategic Investment Board Limited was established and operates under the provisions of the Strategic Investment and Regeneration of Sites (Northern Ireland) Order 2003. The Strategic Investment Board reports to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on a quarterly basis and on other occasions as required by the office.

Membership of the Strategic Investment Board comprises: A Watson, J Stewart, G Sparks and N Hamilton—who were initially appointed on 1 April 2003 and re-appointed on 1 April 2006—D Gavaghan—appointed 21 July 2004—D Dobbin—appointed 1 October 2005—and B Hannam—appointed 11 January 2006.

These appointments were made by the Minister with responsibility for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. The appointment of the non-executive directors was in accordance with the guidance issued by the office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Northern Ireland. The executive directors D Gavaghan and B Hannam are senior officers of the Strategic Investment Board.

The Strategic Investment Board employs 16 people all of whom were appointed by the company through external recruitment processes. The community background of employees is as follows:

Roman Catholic—8

Protestant—6

Non-determined—2.