§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Minister of State's recent visit to South America.
§ Mr. MulleyI have just completed an intensive three weeks' visit to Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru and Colombia. In Brazil I visited the British Industrial Exhibition in Sâo Paulo and took part in many official engagements designed to promote the Exhibition. In the other Latin American capitals which I visited, I met Ministers and senior officials and discussed subjects of bilateral interest. In particular I dealt with economic and commercial matters, especially those related to the possibility of increasing British exports to the countries concerned. My visit attracted a great deal of local attention and favourable comment in all the countries I visited and I have no doubt it has demonstrated the continuing and growing importance which Her Majesty's Government attach to the countries of Latin America, who are playing an increasingly influential rôle in world affairs.