§ Mr. Terry Davisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to make a decision on the request from the Indian Government for laparoscopes to be used in Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
§ Mr. Neil MartenEarly in the new year.
§ Mr. Terry Davisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government plan to hold discussions in India on the request of the Indian Government for laparoscopes to be used in Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
§ Mr. Neil MartenTwo of my professional advisers discussed the requests in India earlier this month.
§ Mr. Terry Davisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the 632W answer of the Minister of State, Official Report, 10 December, c. 630, how he intends to establish the adequacy of sterilising facilities in the hospitals in Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in which the Indian Government intend to use the laparoscopes which were requested on 26 October and 2 November; and why this matter cannot be left to the Indian Government.
§ Mr. Neil MartenThe adequacy of sterilising facilities is only one of the factors we would want to take into account when discussing the distribution of the instruments. In the first instance, we would ask for information from the relevant health authorities. It is our normal practice to make inquiries of recipient Governments to make sure that equipment provided under the aid programme is used safely and effectively.