Dear Mr. Shore.
Thank you for your letter of 15 February about the contract which the Oman Government awarded for their new University.
I will go straight to the central point.
You accuse me of batting for a single firm in which a member of my own Mark Thatcherfamily had a direct financial interest in the outcome. You did not produce a shred of evidence to support such a serious allegation. It is quite untrue.
I do not discriminate between British companies and I did not do so on this occasion. In accordance with the advice of the relevant Departments, I raised with the Oman Government the interest of Britain in playing a major role in all aspects of the new University—consultancy, construction and academic. I did not mention Cementation or any other company.
In the light of this, your complaint is unjustified and the rest of your letter has no relevance. I hope therefore that you will withdraw your untrue allegation.
Yours sincerely
Margaret Thatcher