§ Mr. John Evansasked the Minister for Trade how many firms have notified his Department of loss of orders or contracts from Argentina or other South American countries; and if he will assist such firms financially.
§ Mr. Peter ReesWe know of one case where a United Kingdom company has lost an order from Argentina. A number of other cases have been notified of firms experiencing uncertainty which might ultimately result in the loss of orders. It is possible that companies with firm orders which are concelled may be able to claim on ECGD if they are appropriately insured. But it is not otherwise the Government's policy to pay compensation for such losses.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Minister for Trade if he will list any trade delegations or visits to the United Kingdom sponsored or arranged by the British Government since 3 May 1979 for Argentine Ministers, officials or business persons, together with the names of any British Ministers or officials who met them; and if he will place in the Library copies of any press statements issued or speeches made in the course of or about such visits.
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to the reply, 10 May 1982, c. 174–5]: The following officially sponsored trade-related visits have taken place since 3 May 1979:
28 April-3 May 1979—HE Dr. Jose Martinez de Hoz (Minister of Economy)30 April-6 May 1979—Sr Ing D. Brunella (Secretary of State for Energy)2–15 September 1979—Mr. O. Calgagno (Director General of Combustible Fuels YPF)2–15 September 1979—Ing O. Mussini (Director of Drilling YPF)10–14 September 1979—Capt Dolberto Frederico Valquez Salazar10–14 September 1979—Admiral Carlos Albertos Barros1–11 October 1979—Col D. Hector N. Iglesias10–15 May 1981—General de Brigada Augusto AlemanzorThe Department of Trade does not have the transcripts of speeches made by these visitors. There were no press statements issued about these visits. The cost of attempting to establish the identities of the United Kingdom persons who met the visitors would be disproportionate.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Minister for Trade if he will list those Ministers, officials and business persons who have visited Argentina since 3 May 1979 on official trade delegations; and if he will place in the Library copies of any press statements issued or speeches made in 345W connection with such delegations, including those associated with visits by Ministers or officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to the reply, 10 May 1982, c. 174–5]: The following official trade delegations have visited the Argentine since 3 May 1979:
6–12 June 1980—Lord Limerick, Chairman BOTB, led the British delegation to a BEAMA Symposium, accompanied by R. Howie, Private Secretary and A. B. Clarke Fairs and Promotions Branch, DOT.5–10 August 1980—Right hon. Cecil Parkinson, Minister for Trade, accompanied by K. Long, Private Secretary, H. R. Owen, Commercial Relations and Exports Division, DOT, D. Woods, Press Office, DOT, C. R. Armstrong, Lloyds Bank International Ltd., P. E. G. Bates, Plessey Electronic Systems Ltd., E. Hawes, Rendel, Palmer and Tritton, H. W. Jackson, GEC Ltd., R. J. Dowding, Hawker Siddeley International Ltd.19–25 September 1980—Right hon. Peter Walker, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food accompanied by G. Waters, Principal Private Secretary, T. Dawes, Chief Information Officer and P. Parkhouse, Under Secretary, External Relations Group MAFF, J. A. Miller, Milk Marketing Board, W. T. Mee and J. Bowcock, Sir Alexander Gibb and Partners, Lord Edward Fitzroy, Imperial Food Industries Technical Services S. A. Saker, Wolseley Hughes Export Ltd., T. Gardiner, Rowntree Mackintosh27 May-1 June 1981—Mr. Kenneth Clarke QC, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Transport, accompanied by N. T. Hoyle, Private Secretary, and D. G. Clark, Director Traffic Control and Communications Division, Department of Transport, A. Goldstein, R. Travers Morgan, G. Kennedy, N. Rothschild, H. W. Jackson, GEC Ltd., K. V. Smith, Transmark Ltd.18–23 September 1981—Right hon. Peter Walker, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food accompanied by Miss K. Timms, Private Secretary, P. Parkhouse, Under Secretary MAFF, T. Dawes, Press Officer, J. Frapell and E. Carden, Milk Marketing Board, N. Saphir, Chairman Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Cooperation, M. C. Deverell, Barclays Bank.Copies of press notices will be placed in the Library. Transcripts of speeches delivered in the course of these visits, are not available.