§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the purpose of the visits by Under-Secretaries of State in his Department to Kuwait from 4 to 7 January and to Saudi Arabia from 30 May to 1 June.
§ Mr. David HowellMy hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke), in his then capacity as Under-Secretary of State at my Department, visited Kuwait from 4 to 7 January 1981, as a guest of the Kuwaiti Government. During the visit he met several Kuwaiti Ministers, and a number of senior officials. The purpose of the visit was to promote co-operation and trade.
My hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe's successor, my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. Eyre) led a small team to Saudi Arabia from 30 May to 1 June 1981 to present various aspects of my Department's work with a view to developing co-operation and trade. The visit was in response to a request from the Ministry of Communications in Saudi Arabia.