§ Sir C. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether Her Majesty's Government are supporting the exhibition of British mining and other heavy equipment to be held in Peking in June.
§ Mr. HeathThis is a field in which we see good export openings in China, and we very much hope that increased business will result from the exhibition. I should emphasise, however, that this does not in any way imply official approval of the body which is sponsoring the exhibition. This body, known as the "48" Group, is closely connected through its consultant and some of its members with the British Council for the Promotion of International Trade, to whose Communist affiliations I drew the attention the House as recently as 5th December. However, since many of the firms who are exhibiting may not be aware of this aspect of the "48" Group, I am on this occasion instructing H.M. Chargé d'Affaires to give individual exhibitors the support and help they need.