§ 37. Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which overseas countries he visited on official business during the parliamentary recess.
§ Mr. RifkindI paid official visits in Japan, New Zealand, Australia and Thailand.
In Japan I visited 15 companies and held meetings with the Japanese Government and with business men in Tokyo and Osaka. I was encouraged by the positive approach which companies took towards Scotland as a location for European manufacturing, and was able to announce an investment by Seiko in Livingston and an expansion of JVC's activities in East Kilbride. The links between Japan and Scotland will be further strengthened by the Japanese Government's decision to establish a consulate-general in Edinburgh, and by the Japan External Trade Organisation's proposal to set up an office in Scotland.
162WMy meetings with Government and business men in New Zealand and Australia built on the continuing strength of Scotland's relations with both countries and provided opportunities to encourage trade and pursue inward investment.
During my brief stopover in Thailand I had a useful meeting with the Thai Minister of Finance about the problem of counterfeit Scotch whisky.