§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of funding provided for trade missions to South Africa and for participation in exhibitions and trade missions in South Africa for the period from November 1985 to June 1986.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkAt the time of the agreement reached by Commonwealth Heads of Government in Nassau last October that there should be no Government funding for trade missions to South Africa or for participation in exhibitions or trade fairs in that country, the British Overseas Trade Board was firmly committed to supporting three trade missions visiting South Africa in November and one group of British companies participating in a trade fair in Johannesburg, also in November. The cost of honouring these commitments totalled £40,385. The BOTB has since provided no financial support for either trade missions to South Africa or participation in local trade fairs.