Brussels, Dec 24 (IANS/EFE): Belgian Defence Minister Steven Vandeput personally authorised the use of a military aircraft for flying Belgium's King Philip and his family to Asia for their Christmas vacation, sparking controversy about the use of public resources for private purposes, a media report said Wednesday.
Vandeput granted permission for the royal family to use the Falcon military aircraft, according to the De Tijd newspaper.
"I gladly inform you that instructions have been given to the Air Force to carry out this mission," said Vandeput in a letter Oct 21 to the Head of the King's Military Household, Gen. Jef Van den Put, the newspaper said.
Vandeput had previously denied his involvement in the king's trip to India which began Saturday.
The newspaper claimed that only the flight of the Falcon, which requires the aircraft and its crew to remain with their passengers for the entire 10-day vacation, cost $91,460, which has been entirely incurred by the ministry.
Vandeput had previously announced that the new Belgian government, led by Charles Michel, planned to limit such trips.
By law, the Belgian king is required to travel by military aircraft because of security concerns and a defence ministry source told De Tijd that the flap over the issue was a moot point.
Therefore, if the king asks again for a military flight to go on vacation, the minister would have to approve it, said the source.