Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what considerations the Government undertook before appointing HSBC to sit on the UK Investment Council.

Members of the Investment Council are invited and appointed in a personal capacity, based on evidence relevant to the following criteria:

• competence and experience in areas relevant to international investment,
• sector expertise, and
• an understanding of the UK investment climate

All members have been considered under a common due diligence process in line with 10 Downing Street and Cabinet Office guidance.