HC Deb 30 November 1987 vol 123 cc379-80W
Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the Chilean Government officials whom the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. Clark) met on his recent trip to Chile; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Clark

I had meetings with the Deputy Foreign Minister; the Finance Minister; the Minister of Public Works; the Minister of Mines; the Chief of Staff of the Chilean Navy; the President of the Central Bank; the Executive Secretary of the Foreign Investment Commission. I also attended a lunch hosted by the Foreign Minister. After my arrival in Chile, I was invited to see the President, on whom I paid a courtesy call.

Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in which products he anticipates increased trade with Chile as a result of the recent visit to Chile by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. Clark); and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Clark

The Chilean market offers excellent opportunities for British exporters across a wide range of product areas. In the first 10 months of this year, our exports to Chile were up by over 70 per cent, over the same period last year. I am hopeful that one result of my visit will be that British companies will increase their sales to the Chilean mining sector.

Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a copy of all press statements from his Department about the recent visit to Chile by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. Clark).

Mr. Alan Clark

A copy of my Department's press notice, announcing the visit, is available in the House of Commons Library.

Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) whether the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. Clark) expressed concern about human rights abuses at every meeting with Government officials on his recent visit to Chile; and if he will make a statement;

(2) whether the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. Clark), raised the question of Chileans formerly resident in Britain and now imprisoned in Chile with any Government officials during his recent visit to Chile; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Clark

The purpose of my visit was to promote British exports to Chile. I nevertheless took the opportunity, where appropriate to express Her Majesty's Government's concern about human rights in Chile. Her Majesty's Government have raised with the Chilean authorities the matter of two Chileans, formerly resident in the United Kingdom, who are in prison awaiting trial on arms charges.

Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the organisations with which the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. Clark), held meetings on his recent trip to Chile; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Clark

I had meetings with the President and senior officials of CODELCO, the Chilean copper mining corporation; the chairman and officials of the British/ Chilean chamber of commerce; the president of FISA (the Santiago International Trade Fair); and the general manager of Minera Escondida Ltd. In addition, I met representatives of the Chilean opposition and an official of the Chilean Human Rights Commission.