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ROBERT DAVIDSON, PLUS POSSIBLE DTI INVOLVEMENT). THE MINISTER WAS KEEN TO SUPPORT THIS MEGA PROJECT.
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SIR WILLIAM'S ORIGINAL CONCEPT ON THESE TWO MEGA PROJECTS WAS THAT HE WOULD HEAD UP THINK TANKS WHICH WOULD WORK UP THE PROJECTS TO A COMPLETE PACKAGE THAT COULD BE PRESENTED TO THE POTENTIAL CLIENT. (THE THINK TANKS WOULD COMPRISE PROJECT MANAGER PLUS A TEAM OF ABOUT HALF A DOZEN DRAWN FROM GOVERNMENT, MERCHANT BANKS, SUPPLIERS AND INVESTORS) SIR WILLIAM HAD BEEN TOLD BY THE MINISTER THAT THIS CONCEPT THOUGH ADMIRABLE WAS NOT POSSIBLE. IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT IT WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE IF SIR WILLIAM WORKED WITH PEP. THE TWO MEGA PROJECTS ARE ONES THAT PEP WOULD BE EXPECTED TO BECOME INVOLVED WITH AS A FACILITATOR AND THIS ROLE COULD BE GREATLY ASSISTED BY THE PRESENCE OF SIR WILLIAM.
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COMMENT. SIR WILLIAM IS NO LONGER THE CLIENT WHO CAN AFFORD TO WORK THESE CONCEPTS UP. IN HIS PREVIOUS JOB SUPPLIERS LISTENED TO HIM AS A CLIENT AND THE CHINESE WOOED HIM AS A POTENTIAL PARTNER. HIS CURRENT STRENGTHS ARE HIS TRACK RECORD AND HIS CONTACTS WITH POTENTIAL NEW POWER STATION CLIENTS FOR UK CONSORTIA. ANY SUCH CONSORTIA WOULD NEED TO BE CONVINCED THAT SIR WILLIAM'S INVOLVEMENT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL. SIR WILLIAM IS FINDING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TAKE ON THE ROLE OF FACILITATOR HAVING BEEN AN AUTOCRATIC CLIENT FOR SO LONG. HE IS PROVING A DIFFICULT MAN TO GUIDE. YOUR HELP IN THIS TASK WILL BE MOST WELCOME. THE BTC ROLE IN RELATIONS WITH SIR WILLIAM HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OF PRIME IMPORTANCE. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FEEDBACK FROM YOUR MEETING.
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YOU SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE THAT SIR WILLIAM CONTINUES TO TALK TO SCOTTISH ENTERPRISE ABOUT BECOMING CHAIRMAN OF A POSSIBLE SCOTTISH POWER TRADING COMPANY, SCOTIA POWER. THIS IS MAINLY FOR SMALLER BARGE MOUNTED POWER STATIONS. I AM KEEPING CLOSE CONTACT WITH MIKE JOICE OF SCOTTISH ENTERPRISE ON THIS MATTER.
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