§ Sir Anthony Grantasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the extent of Export Credits Guarantee Department cover for exports to South Africa in each of the years 1974 to 1979; if such cover is still available; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe ECGD has historically insured a substantial proportion of United Kingdom exports to South Africa, but it has been the policy of successive Administrations not to disclose details of exposure on individual markets as such action could be detrimental to ECGD's commercial interests. Cover remains available within ceilings on individual contract values and overall exposure.
As with all markets, ECGD maintains a continuous review of developments, but no changes in cover arrangements for South Africa are proposed.
§ Sir Anthony Grantasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes have taken place in the policy of his Department on trade with South Africa since 1979; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkMy Department's policy on nonmilitary trade with South Africa remains fundamentally unchanged. We continue to believe that civil trade with other countries, including South Africa, should be determined by commercial considerations, not by the character of the Government of those countries.
§ Sir Anthony Grantasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many trade missions to South Africa took place in each of the years 1974 to 1979; and what was their cost to public funds.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe number of outward missions financially supported by the British Overseas Trade Board —BOTB—that visited South Africa in each of the years 1974–9, and their cost to BOTB was:
Missions Cost £ 1974 17 72,000 1975 15 79,200 1976 17 72,000 1977 17 67,550 1978 12 52,725 1979 14 67,620 I have no information on the number or cost of United Kingdom trade missions that visited South Africa without BOTB support in the above period.