§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what checks were carried out by Her Majesty's Government before the issue of export credits in relation to the construction of a university in Oman; if such checks included inspection of the physical plans for that university; which aspects of the project relating to the construction of a university in Oman were deemed to be for non-educational purposes; and what those purposes were. [36612]
§ Mr. NelsonECGD supported a financing facility for the Sultan Qaboos university project and a subsequent, related credit facility for a teaching hospital which is part of the university complex. In accordance with normal insurance practice, ECGD relies upon information given in applications for cover. Although, ECGD saw extracts of the contract it did not see physical plans for the construction of the university. Neither ECGD nor the DTI had or has any knowledge or evidence that the university has been used for non-educational purposes.