HC Deb 15 March 1976 vol 907 cc402-4W
Mr. Tebbit

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the countries to which he has paid official visits since February 1974 together with the dates of such visits.

Mr. Shore,

pursuant to his reply[Official Report, 11th March 1976; Vol. 907, c. 312–3], gave the following information

The list of countries with dates is as follows:

  • Belgium—October 1975.
  • USA—April 1974.
  • Canada—April 1974.
  • Australia—August 1974.
  • New Zealand—August 1974.
  • Brazil—August 1974.
  • Venezuela—August-September 1974.
  • Sweden—January 1975.
  • Finland—January 1975.
  • Iran—January 1975.
  • Nigeria—February-March 1975.
  • Poland—March 1975.
  • Bahrain—April 1975.
  • Kuwait—April 1975.
  • United Arab Emirates—April 1975.
  • Qatar—April 1975.
  • France—May 1975, October 1975.
  • USSR—May 1975, September 1975.
  • Hong Kong—September 1975.
  • South Korea—September 1975.
  • Japan—September 1975.
  • Israel—October 1975.
  • Netherlands—October 1975.
  • Italy—October 1975.
  • West Germany—October 1975.
  • Mexico—November 1975.
  • Cuba—November 1975.
  • India—January 1976.

In addition I have made regular visits to the Council of Ministers in Brussels and Luxembourg.

Mr. Tebbit

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the total cost to public funds since February 1974 of official overseas journeys made by him and by officials and others who accompanied him.

Mr. Shore,

pursuant to his reply[Official Report, 11th March 1976; Vol. 907, c. 312–3],gave the following information

£55,346 up to the end of February 1976.

Mr. Tebbit

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the agreements concluded as a result of his negotiations abroad with his opposite numbers in foreign Governments since

Country Title Date
USSR … … Agreement on the Development of Economic, Scientific, Technological and Industrial Cooperation. 6th May 1974.
Bulgaria … … Agreement on the Development of Economic, Industrial, Scientific and Technological Cooperation. 14th May 1974.
Cuba … … Anglo-Cuban Economic and Industrial Co-operation Agreement. 19th May 1975.
Egypt … … Agreement on Economic, Industrial and Technological Co-operation. 11th June 1975.
Romania … … Long term agreement on economic collaborations and industrial and technological co-operation. 18th September 1975.
Brazil … … Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation on matters of common interest. 21st October 1975.
Saudi Arabia … … Memorandum of Understanding on economic, industrial and technological co-operation. 22nd October 1975.
India … … Exchange of letters setting up an Indo-British Economic Committee. 6th January 1976.

These arrangements are for general economic collaboration. They provide a framework to encourage the development of economic relations of many kinds.

In addition, arising from the proceedings of the joint commissions set up under these and earlier arrangements, long-term programmes for co-operation have been drawn up, in some cases by officials, with the following countries:

  • Czechoslovakia—March 1974.
  • Bulgaria—April 1974.
  • USSR—May 1974.
  • Hungary—June 1974.
  • Poland—October 1974.
  • GDR—November 1974.
  • Romania—January 1975.
  • Iran—January 1975.
  • USSR—February 1975.

February 1974 together with his estimate of the cash value to the United Kingdom of each agreement.

Mr. Shore,

pursuant to his reply[Official Report, 11th March 1976; Vol. 907, c. 312–3],gave the following information

Since February 1974 negotiations have been conducted with many countries, both during the course of my visits abroad and during visits to London of Ministers of foreign Governments. This forms part of a continuing process of exchanges, the results of which I list below.

  • Czechoslovakia—March 1975.
  • Bulgaria—April 1975.
  • USSR—May 1975.
  • Hungary—June 1975.
  • Poland—October 1975.
  • GDR—November 1975.
  • Cuba—November 1975.
  • Iran—December 1975.
  • Romania—January 1976.
  • Czechoslovakia—March 1976.

It is not possible to assign a specific value to these many arrangements. They have been designed to promote United Kingdom trade and co-operation in industrial development. During the calendar year 1975, by comparison with the calendar year 1973, the value of United Kingdom exports to these countries has in nearly every case increased very substantially.

Back to
Forward to