§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if British equipment and personnel are available to assist the extinguishing of oil field fires in Kuwait; how much has been accepted by the Kuwait Government; and what action he is taking to encourage British firms to offer such assistance of Kuwait.
§ Mr. Lilley[holding answer 18 April 1991]: A number of British companies has put forward proposals to the Kuwait Oil Company for assistance in extinguishing oil field fires. The Prime Minister wrote to the Crown Prince on 27 March offering the services of a consortium of British companies and the fire services, and I was able to discuss these proposals with the Crown Prince, the Minister for Oil and the chairman of the Kuwait Oil Company during my visit to Kuwait on 9–10 April. I hope the Kuwaitis will soon be in a position to respond positively.