§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the outcome of her Department's inquiry into the Westland helicopter aid deal with India. [138704]
§ Mr. FoulkesThe aid agreement for the supply of Westland helicopters to India was finalised in 1986. In 1993, the Indian authorities decided to sell the helicopters. We obtained a written agreement from the Government of India that any sale of the Westland helicopter packages would be for non-military use, and that the proceeds would be used for UK-supported poverty reduction programmes.
The Government of India has kept us informed of progress on potential sales, and we understand that a buyer who has undertaken not to use the equipment for military purposes has now been found. We will be pursuing with the Ministry of Finance how to make best use of the proceeds from the sale, to help achieve poverty alleviation.