§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for Trade how many overseas trade missions have been organised during the last convenient 12 month period; and how many of these were accompanied by a Minister, or chairman or deputy chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board.
§ Mr. ParkinsonIn the 12 months to 28 February 1981, there were 210 trade missions organised with financial support from the British Overseas Trade Board; one was accompanied by the chairman of the board. Our overseas posts also gave valuable assistance to these, and other, missions. In addition, in the same period, Ministers from the Department of Trade and the chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board took carefully selected groups of business men on 11 missions covering 16 countries. Ministers from other Departments are also accompanied by groups of business men on occasion.
Since January 1980, Department of Trade Ministers have visited about 40 different countries.