HC Deb 14 November 1989 vol 160 cc115-6W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what support his Department has given in relation to the contract for the north-east Thailand development project;

(2) whether his Department has made any assessment of the military implications in the contract awarding the north-east Thailand development contract to Messrs. Biwaters;

(3) whether representatives of his Department discussed the contract for the north-east Thailand development project with Biwaters.

Mrs. Chalker

The Government have indicated to the Government of Thailand its readiness in principle to provide aid and trade provision support for the Green-E-Sarn development programme. This has involved discussions with Biwaters who are actively pursuing contracts associated with this programme. The Green-ESarn project, while originally put forward by the Thai military authorities, is a civil project for rural development in north-east Thailand, and is the responsibility of the National Economic and Social Development Board of Thailand: there are thus no military implications for the Department to assess.