§ 21. Mr. Jacques ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the prospects for British exports to Kuwait and other Gulf states following the conclusion of the present hostilities.
§ Mr. SainsburyWhen Kuwait is liberated United Kingdom companies can resume supplying a wide range of goods and services. In recent talks with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Kuwait Government have promised a warm welcome to United Kingdom companies participating in the reconstruction of Kuwait.
I assure my hon. Friend that the British Government will continue to do all they can to encourage and reinforce the efforts of our manufacturing and service industries.
§ Mr. ArnoldGiven the considerable and supreme efforts that Britain has made towards the liberation of Kuwait, is my hon. Friend confident that British industry will show itself to be effective in grasping the opportunities that will arise?
§ Mr. SainsburyMy hon. Friend will be aware that British industry has been taking energetic action to that end, supported fully by my Department. An industry task force is in place in Dammam and it will be seeing representatives of the Kuwaiti reconstruction project office tomorrow for further discussions on the part that British industry can play in the reconstruction of Kuwait.