§ Angela SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what advice Ministers received on legal issues concerning the sale of Westland helicopters to the Indian Government within the terms of the Overseas Development and Co-operation Act 1980; what advice Ministers received concerning value for money likely to be achieved by the project; what representations were received from (i) the Government of India and (ii) non-governmental organisations about the project; when was Parliament informed of the decision to sell the helicopters; when concerns about the value of the helicopters to the Indian Government were first raised with(a) officials and (b) Ministers and by whom; and when concerns about the developmental value of the helicopters were first raised with (1) officials and (2) Ministers and by whom. [14044]
§ Clare ShortI am placing in the Library of the House a copy of a report I commissioned which sets out the background to this project. The report does not include information about advice given to previous Ministers on the matter. The Government does not have access to such information concerning a previous Administration.