Written question asked by Lord Bannside (Democratic Unionist Party) on Tuesday, 14 March 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 March 2006. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour) on Monday, 20 March 2006 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Bioscience and Technology Institute

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the remit is of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment inquiry into the Bioscience and Technology Institute.

Answer: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment is required under the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 to appoint Company Inspectors when appropriate where a complaint is received from the public or members or officers of the company or any body or person connected with the company. The Department's function in this area is to protect the public and to regulate the market place.In the case of the Bioscience and Technology Institute, inspectors were appointed by the Department on 22 December 2005 as a result of a complaint received by it.As with all such enquiries, the Inspector's terms of reference are to look into the substance of a complaint and any other matters which they may encounter during their investigation.

Secondary information