§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about his recent visit to Saudi Arabia.
§ Mr. EnnalsI visited Saudi Arabia from 16th to 19th April as the guest of Dr. Gezairi, the Minister of Health, to review and extend the co-operation be-260W tween our two countries in the health field.
Our discussions were very constructive, and I hope that the steps we are taking to develop this co-operation further will provide new opportunities for this country, including its commercial firms, to play a part in the very substantial development of health services which is taking place in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Ministry of Health has a massive programme of construction and development and I want to do what I can to help our firms to take part in it.
Having regard to the Memorandum of Understanding on economic, industrial and technological co-operation between this country and Saudi Arabia, which was signed on 22nd October 1975, Dr. Gezairi and I agreed that steps should be taken to lay down agreed procedures, including the necessary financial and administrative arrangements, for implementing specific measures to expand co-operation in the health field. To this end we agreed that as soon as possible we would conclude a memorandum of understanding which would cover such matters as training—including the possibility of seconding Saudi doctors for postgraduate training and assisting in making arrangements to facilitate this; help in identifying specialists to be recruited by the Saudi Ministry of Health to head medical departments, as may be agreed; visits by or the provision of experts from my Department, the NHS or other body with expertise in health matters in United Kingdom, to assist and advise the Ministry or to undertake specific studies; the involvement of my Department in giving support to, or in the supervision of, the work of British firms undertaking contracts on behalf of the Ministry; the making of arrangements by my Department for the carrying out of technical studies; and the development of a relationship with the Saudi Ministry of Health which will enable experts in this country to advise on such matters as specifications for medical equipment, stores procedures, and pharmaceuticals.
My hope is that British firms will exploit the opportunities which now exist.