Richard Caring has sought to distance himself from BHS’ leadership, claiming that his companies were left with £850,000 of debt when it collapsed.

In written evidence, published today by the select committees of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Work and Pensions, the restaurant entrepreneur and former clothing supply tycoon said that the debts were owed to his supply companies.

Caring said that at no point did he hold a “formal role” at BHS.

Caring was a minority shareholder from 2001 to 2006. In his letter to the committees, which he wrote in place of appearing before MPs, he said: “I was not at any time a director of BHS, and, therefore, did not attend board meetings. Equally, I was not involved in corporate governance.”

He went on to say he was not involved in the company’s dividend scheme or pension.

Caring added that, since he stopped being a shareholder in 2006, he was not involved in the sale to Retail Acquisitions, and had never met Dominic Chappell.

The committees have already replied to Caring’s letter. They have asked him 20 questions on his relationship with Sir Philip Green, BHS’ health and how much he received in dividends and how much he received, and from whom, when he sold his shares in 2006.

The Guardian has previously estimated that Caring has received £93m in dividends.

A number of figures involved in BHS will appear before MPs today and tomorrow. They include Arcadia finance director Paul Budge, Goldman Sachs senior bankers and Pensions Regulator chief executive Lesley Titcomb.