Written question asked by Lord Singh of Wimbledon (Crossbench) on Monday, 4 December 2023, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 18 December 2023. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Tuesday, 19 December 2023 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Operation Blue Star

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impartiality of the Heywood review into allegations of UK involvement in the Indian Army's operation against the Golden Temple in the light of reports that the father of a senior member of that review was the Prime Minister's private secretary at the time of the operation.

Answer: The Heywood review of 2014 worked specifically to establish facts about the UK advice and assistance to the Indian Government during Operation Blue Star 1984. It concluded that UK assistance was advisory, ended several months before the operation and had limited impact on the tragic events that followed. The UK Government has concluded that there is no basis to challenge the conclusions of the 2014 review or to review the broader decisions of the government of the day.

Secondary information