§ Michael FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the occasions since 1997 when ministers from her Department have accompanied British firms on visits overseas to promote export marketing and sales, indicating the name of the minister and the country visited in each case. [128406]
§ Mr. Timms[holding answer 9 September 2003]Ministers take every opportunity to accompany British firms on visits overseas in order to help increase trade and investment opportunities, and boost British exports.
For example, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry led a senior business delegation to India in January 2003. I and my hon Friend, the Under-secretary of State for Small Business also led trade missions to India in November 2002 and February 2003 respectively.
My hon. Friend, the Minister for Trade and Investment, led a senior business delegation to China as part of the Prime Minister's visit in July 2003. His predecessor, my noble Friend Baroness Symons, now the Minister for State for the Middle East led a business delegation to Brazil in March 2002.
My hon. Friend the Member for Cunninghame North the then Minister of State for Energy and Construction, supported the UK presence at the Caspian Oil and Gas show in Azerbaijan in June 2003. He also went to Houston, USA in May 2003 for the Offshore Technology Conference (where over 100 UK companies were exhibiting); to Brazil in September 2002 for the Rio 547W de Janeiro Oil and Gas Show; and to Stavanger, Norway, in August 2002 for the Offshore Northern Seas Exhibition.Full information on all visits is not, however, recorded centrally in the form requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.