Question NW3106 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
28 November 2018 - NW3106
America, Mr D to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
Whether, since she served in Cabinet, she (a)(i) was ever influenced by any person and/or (ii) influenced any of her department’s employees to take any official administrative action on behalf of any (aa) member, (bb) employee and/or (cc) close associate of the Gupta family and/or (b) attended any meeting where any of the specified persons were present; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
Reply:
(a) No, I have never been influenced by any person and/or influenced any employee in the Department to take an official administrative action on behalf of any member, employee and/or close associate of the Gupta family.
(b) I have attended events organised by the Hindu community to mark their Diwali, a Hindu Festival, wherein members of the Gupta family attend as part of the members of the Hindu society.
These invitations have always been extended to Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and the Business community long before I even assumed the responsibility of being the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.