United States of America (Hansard, 10 July 1996)

§ 6. Mr. Fabricant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of relations between the United Kingdom and the United States of America. [35166]

§ Sir Nicholas Bonsor
Relations between the United Kingdom and the United States remain excellent.

§ Mr. Fabricant
Bearing in mind the excellent news on television this lunchtime of a £1.7 billion investment from Korea which is to create 6,000 jobs in south Wales, and further bearing in mind the fact that the United States economy is going through a period of growth, as is that of the United Kingdom—unlike continental Europe, which is going through recession—is not the policy of the British Government, not to have a blinkered approach in our relationship with Europe, but to strengthen British and American and, indeed, far eastern relations, right?

§ Sir Nicholas Bonsor
It is a primary purpose of the Government's policy that we should encourage free trade. We look especially to the United States as a major partner in that exercise and, as my hon. Friend rightly said, the sooner we can attain the World Trade Organisation target of free trade throughout the world, the better it will be for British industry and the British people.

§ Mr. Ernie Ross
Have the Government had the opportunity to discuss with the American Administration the outcome of the recent Israeli election? Have they had the opportunity to draw to the attention of the American Administration the excellent statement on the middle east made by the Heads of Government in Florence? If the Government have not had that opportunity, will they make it clear to the American Administration that we want them to make it clear to Mr. Netanyahu, during his visit to the United States, that we expect the new Israeli Government to abide by the international agreement if there is to be peace in the middle east?

§ Sir Nicholas Bonsor
The United States Government and Her Majesty's Government are determined to see the peace process in the middle east continue successfully. We are watching very closely the effects of the election of Prime Minister Netanyahu, which I trust will not in any way inhibit the process of the talks and the move towards peace. We will have to watch that as time progresses.

§ Mr. John Marshall
Will my hon. Friend speculate on how relations between Britain and America would have been affected if we had given up our independent deterrent, as recommended by the leaders of new Labour?

§ Sir Nicholas Bonsor
I must admit that there are very few things that I would prefer to speculate on. It would be an horrific prospect, and I am delighted that it did not occur.