CORRECTION: Aid contract: apology to Biwater

In an article on 29 March 1994 headed "Thai Aid Contract Faces MP's Scrutiny" we stated that MPs were to investigate why the British water engineering company Biwater was set to win a multi-million pound aid contract in Thailand . This was incorrect. Biwater had not tendered for the contract and there was no investigation.

Our article was so worded as to suggest that the award of the Thai contract might be due to donations to the Conservative Party made by Biwater, and to its former Chairman's membership of the Overseas Projects Board.

These suggestions were unintended and we are pleased to make clear that we entirely accept that there is no truth in them.

We apologise sincerely to Biwater and to Mr Adrian White for the embarrassment which they have been caused.

Yesterday, the High Court was told that the libel action brought by Biwater and Mr White had been settled on terms which included publication of this apology and payment of substantial damages to the plaintiffs.