Inquiry into aid for India

London - An immediate British government inquiry was launched last night to investigate why £65 million earmarked for humanitarian aid in India was misused. The Secretary of State for International Development, Ms Clare Short, intervened after the disclosure that the cash was spent on helicopters which are to be returned to Britain and sold to an aviation spare parts firm for £900,000. In Bangladesh, where she was visiting British aid projects Ms Short said the misuse of the Indian aid funds was a "scandal".