§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What financial or other support is being given by the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office respectively, to the seminar being held by the Confederation of British Industry on 19th November 1996, on the current economic situation in Iran; what officials of either department will be present at this meeting, and what is their policy generally on subsidising events promoting commercial and economic links between Britain and Iran.
§ Lord Fraser of CarmyllieNeither the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) nor the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is providing financial support to the Confederation of British Industry for its conference on Iran. The DTI Director General of Export Promotion and the Chargé d'Affaires at the British Embassy in Tehran have agreed to speak. Officials from the DTI Middle East Branch and the FCO Middle East Department will also attend. The DTI supports the promotion of trade with Iran (except where this is subject to restriction under export licensing controls) through the normal range of DTI services.