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Written question asked by Lord Laird (Ulster Unionist Party), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Wilcox (Conservative) on Wednesday, 9 June 2010.

Independent Networks Co-operative Association

Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ask the National Audit Office to investigate the formation, management and accounts of the Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA); what progress the Financial Services Authority has made in investigating the organisation; how much money they have paid to INCA since its formation; and which department made those payments.
Answer

No evidence has been presented to the Government that suggests any need for the NAO to investigate INCA. The FSA has not had any reason to investigate INCA. INCA was formed in November 2009 and its filings with the FSA are publicly available and up to date. A grant offer letter was made to INCA by the Department of Business Innovation and Skills in December 2009. Under the terms of the letter a grant of up to £150,000 was available. Payments under the terms of the offer letter have been made to INCA as follows: 11 March 2010—£31,750.00; 30 March 2010—£14,089.46; and 20 April 2010—£13,053.62 The total amount paid to date is therefore £58,893.08. The performance indicators that have to be met by INCA are set out in the grant offer letter. They are: the Independent Networks Co-operative Association (““the company””) should be registered and operational by 31 December 2009; the company should be able produce upon demand forward strategy documents and record of activity and achievements; the company must submit to the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) ““the department”” quarterly reports on progress against key performance indicators and financial statements of income and expenditure and risk assessment/mitigation; the company should be able to demonstrate independent operation by 31 August 2010, employing its own management team and core staff; the company should be able to demonstrate its contribution to the adoption of common standards for local and community projects; the company should meet the target number of member companies agreed with the department; the company should be able to demonstrate the impact of operation on the development of the telecommunications sector; and the company must demonstrate that it has regard to the equalities duties in the Disability Discrimination Act, the Sex Discrimination Act and the Race Relations Act. The grant offer letter has been released following a Freedom of Information Act request and is available on the BIS website at www.bis.gov.uk. Further documents relating to the grant offer are the subject of a request under the Freedom of Information Act and will be released subject to the exemptions in the Act.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
81; 719 c46-8WA
Session
2010-12
Related items
Show all related items (10)
Networks Co-operative Association
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects
Company accounts Grants Financial Services Authority Management National Audit Office Independent Networks Co-operative Association
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk