§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will describe the assistance given to the Biwater Group in connection with overseas contracts since 1983, listing the value, locations and nature of the projects involved and the nature of the tendering process for each;
(2) what involvement his Department had with the Malaysian rural water supply schemes undertaken by Biwater;
(3) what assistance Her Majesty's Government have given to the Biwater Group in securing overseas contracts since 1983.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 8 February 1994]: I refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the hon. Member on 17 February, Official Report, column 937 and the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 14 February, Official Report, column 568.
In addition, the DTI has awarded Biwater a number of grants under the overseas projects fund to assist with the pre-contractual costs of pursuing overseas contracts. Details of these grants are commercially confidential. Where appropriate, in accordance with scheme rules, grants are repaid.