HC Deb 01 June 1981 vol 5 cc632-3
7. Mr. Viggers

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many countries have been visited by Trade Ministers since May 1979.

Mr. Biffen

Fifty eight, Sir.

Mr. Viggers

I congratulate my right hon. Friend and his colleagues on that remarkable display of energy, which has been most successful in promoting exports by this country. Does my right hon. Friend share the view that his energy has not been matched by British industry, particularly in the Far East where there is a danger that we may lose opportunities in that rapidly expanding market?

Mr. Biffen

I thank my hon. Friend for the first part of his remarks. On the second part, I am sure that British industry and commerce will seize all the profitable potential in the Far East, and I am not terribly happy about politicians trying to exhort business men on how they should earn their living.

Mr. Gwilym Roberts

Does the right hon. Gentleman accept the importance of the Chinese market for British industrialists and does he share the disappointment of many British industrialists at the recent decision of the Minister for Trade not to visit China in support of the trade drive there?

Mr. Biffen

I accept at once the present and potential importance of the Chinese market, but I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will be the first to acknowledge that the Chinese have been cutting back substantially on their ordering under their latest economic plan. I am sure that the whole House will agree that, although it was highly regrettable that my hon. Friend could not make his planned visit to China, staying to support the Government was a noble objective.

Mr. Dudley Smith

What effect have the ministerial visits had on the disgraceful practice of the counterfeiting of British goods? In the Midlands context, I am thinking particularly of car components.

Mr. Biffen

The difficulty to which my hon. Friend draws attention is well known. We are making representations to the Governments concerned, and ministerial visits play a part in that process.

Mr. Skinner

Does the Secretary of State recall that a little over 12 months ago, when the Russians invaded Afghanistan, the Tory Government made great play of principles and the fact that they would stop trade with the Soviet Union? Am I correct in believing what I have read in the past few days, namely, that this Tory Government have now decided to encourage trade with the Soviet Union once again? Does that mean that Tory principles last for only 12 months?

Mr. Biffen

No. It means that we do not entertain the blind devotion to ideology that disfigures a certain section of the Labour Party.

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