§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the official visits to Saudi Arabia made by Ministers in his Department since May 1979, stating in each case the dates and purpose of the visit. [19560]
§ Mr. SoamesFor the period April 1993 to February 1996, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement to the hon. Member for Warrington, South (Mr. Hall) on 1 March 1996,Official Report, column 767. According to our records, the following visits have since been made to Saudi Arabia:
Secretary of State Defence (Mr. Portillo) March 1996.867WMinister of State for the Armed Forces (Mr. Soames) April 1996.Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Mr. Soames) October 1996.The purpose of these visits was the promotion of our important bilateral relations.
Records of ministerial visits prior to April 1993 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.