§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last visited Kuwait; what assistance has been given by the Foreign Office to British companies seeking to help with Kuwait's reconstruction programme following the Gulf war; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs last visited Kuwait in May 1992 to attend an EC/Gulf Co-operation Council ministerial meeting. The British embassy in Kuwait was one of the first to open after liberation and its staff played an important role in helping United Kingdom companies win orders associated with the reconstruction programme. The FCO was also represented on a DTI/industry task force set up to help British exporters. In the first 12 months of the initial reconstruction phase, the United Kingdom won contracts and orders worth over £550 million.
The official figures for United Kingdom exports to Kuwait for 1991, 1992 and 1993 are £178 million, £262 million and £312 million respectively. Exports are now at their highest level for six years.