§ 32. Miss LestorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there was any reference in any of the correspondence concerning the sale of arms to Malaysia that preceded the signing of the memorandum of understanding in 1988, to United Kingdom overseas aid to Malaysia.
§ Mr. SainsburyFollowing the expression of Malaysian interest in United Kingdom overseas aid in early398W exchanges, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made it clear to the Malaysian Finance Minister that it would not be acceptable to Her Majesty's Government to link aid with the defence sales package. As I stated at column 191 on 17 May, the memorandum of understanding makes no mention of overseas aid to Malaysia.