§ 8. Mr. Jacques ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with Argentina. [22618]
§ Mr. RifkindApart from our disagreement over the Falklands and South Georgia, relations are good and continuing to improve.
§ Mr. ArnoldWhile I welcome the strong guarantees that this country is giving the Falkland islands and South Georgia, will my right hon. and learned Friend highlight the rapidly improving links between Argentina—one of the major economies of Latin America—and our country? In particular, could he highlight the considerable British investment that is taking place there and the great prospects not only for British investors but for British traders into that great country?
§ Mr. RifkindI certainly can. In recent times, some major British utilities—British Gas, Anglian Water and the National Grid Company—have made substantial investments under Argentina's privatisation programme. The total value of that work in 1994 was £225 million.