HC Deb 01 December 1998 vol 321 cc658-9
5. Mr. Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire)

When he next intends to visit Cuba to discuss the state of its economy. [61383]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Tony Lloyd)

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to visit Cuba. However, my noble Friend the Under-Secretary made the first ministerial visit to Cuba under this Government in October, followed in November by my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade. Both discussed with their Cuban interlocutors, among other things, the prospects for the Cuban economy.

Mr. Pickthall

Does my hon. Friend share my dismay that, last month, the United States stepped up its trade sanctions against Cuba? Does he agree that there is much to be gained by Britain and Cuba stepping up their trade relationships a gear, for example, in respect of food and engineering equipment exports? Cuba is desperate for both. Is there any way in which Britain can help Cuba in the development and marketing of the meningitis vaccine that it has produced, which would greatly benefit Britain and the world?

Mr. Lloyd

My hon. Friend knows that it has been the policy of successive Governments that constructive engagement with Cuba will be more helpful in bringing it to acceptance of basic democratic standards and human rights than the process pursued by the United States. He is right to point out that we already have many exchanges, in terms of both trade and science. A team from Imperial college will shortly make a third visit to Cuba to conduct a further assay and to follow up clinical tests in connection with the meningitis vaccine pioneered in Cuba. That vaccine is significant, and I met the research team who developed it some time ago. It may become the world's first and only effective vaccine against meningitis B. If the Imperial college team concludes accordingly, it will be put to the Medicines Control Agency for approval for licensing within the United Kingdom. That will be a great step forward, not only in the fight against meningitis, but for Cuban medical research.

Mr. John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood)

Is the Minister aware that Latin America will perceive Her Majesty's Government's policy toward Cuba as selective and partial, in that no fewer than six of Her Majesty's Ministers have visited that tiny island, whereas a comparable number have not visited other Latin American countries? The economy of Cuba is, to be candid, a basket case. Is the Minister aware that our exports to Cuba went down last year, from £24 million to a mere £19 million; that our exports to Chile, which has a population similar to that of Cuba, went up to £210 million—a rise of £44 million; and that our imports from Chile went up by £220 million, whereas imports from Cuba fell by £4 million? Is that a good investment on the part of Her Majesty's Government?

Mr. Lloyd

I am genuinely astonished if the Opposition believe that we should denigrate Cuba in particular and the Caribbean in general. If that is the import of the hon. Gentleman's comments, he is seriously wrong. We want to have strong relations, not only with Cuba and the Caribbean as a whole, but, beyond that, with Latin America. Our relations with Latin America have improved enormously in recent years and are continuing to improve. There has been, and will continue to be, a steady flow of ministerial visits, not only to Cuba, but to other parts of Latin America. That is good for Britain and good for Latin America. I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman does not share that view.

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