To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (1) when the Export Credits Guarantee Department granted an indemnity for the Al-Yamamah Saudi-British Defence Co-operation Programme; and what the present status of this indemnity is; (257401)

[holding answer 23 February 2009]: Since 1989 ECGD has provided consecutive insurances and indemnities to BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd in respect of the Al Yamamah programme (now known as the Saudi British Defence Co-Operation Programme), the last of which was a five year Indemnity issued in 2006, to which, in 2007, the Salam programme was nominated for cover in accordance with the terms of the Indemnity. The Indemnity was terminated by BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd with effect from 1 September 2008.