HC Deb 14 February 1996 vol 271 cc992-3
2. Mr. Clifton-Brown

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to assist the overseas trade services. [13503]

The Minister for Trade (Mr. Anthony Nelson)

Through overseas trade services, my Department, together with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, provides the best-ever package of information, advice and practical assistance to all British companies wishing to explore new export opportunities.

Mr. Clifton-Brown

Is my hon. Friend aware that companies such as BP in Azerbaijan and British American Tobacco in Uzbekistan have substantial exports to those countries? Does my hon. Friend agree that those large companies could act as pathfinders for smaller British companies to encourage our export efforts to those countries? For example, in Azerbaijan, the next big contract has just been let to an American hotel chain. Could we not have encouraged British companies to compete for that contract?

Mr. Nelson

My hon. Friend is right. Those are important contracts and the companies are important pioneers. I believe that they can pave the way for smaller companies to follow in their wake, but it is important to remember that many already do. Some 3,000 companies have participated in 200 missions and 8,000 exhibitors have taken part in trade fairs. They are following in the wake of the perhaps 20 or 30 companies which dominate our trade performance. They have to work together and I am sure that they do so.

Mr. MacShane

After tomorrow, can the Minister give a guarantee on overseas trade that no Minister will be signing any certificate which could send innocent British people to prison in order to promote the interests of MI6?

Mr. Nelson

Yes, I can give that assurance. That is the position that has obtained up to now and it will continue in the future. I am the Minister responsible within the Department for export control of weapons. We take those responsibilities extremely seriously. We are not above learning from experience, but we intend to fulfil our national and international obligations under the law.

Mr. Elletson

Will my hon. Friend ensure that the overseas trade services continue to support British defence exporters? Is my hon. Friend aware of the particular importance of defence exports to the economy of Lancashire? Will he take this opportunity to condemn those Labour Members who spend their political lives undermining defence exports and defence jobs?

Mr. Nelson

I agree wholeheartedly with my hon. Friend. If we listened to Opposition Members, we would have closed down just about every export market that we have in the world, not just for defence equipment. The supply of legitimate defence equipment under article 51 of the United Nations convention to enable countries to defend themselves is wholly legitimate. It is in our national interest and it provides millions of jobs in constituencies represented by Opposition Members, although sometimes one would not think so.