§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on trade links between the United Kingdom and Israel; and what action he is taking to encourge them.
§ Mr. SainsburyTrade links between the United Kingdom and Israel are good. Trade between the UK and Israel exceeded £1 billion for the first time in 1990—UK exports £558 million, UK imports £502 million. Israel is a priority market for export promotion under the British Overseas Trade Board's forward plan. My Department supports the activities of the British overseas trade group for Israel. I intend to visit Israel later this year to encourage trade and investment links.
§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on his Department's note of guidance to British exporters regarding the Arab trade boycott of Israel; and when it was last revised.
§ Mr. SainsburyMy Department's guidance note on the Arab boycott seeks to inform British firms on Government policy towards the boycott, to help remove misunderstandings about the operation of the boycott as it affects them and to provide them with information to assist their decisions about trading with the Arab world and Israel.
The note, copies of which are in the Library, was last revised in January 1991.
§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on all recent and proposed trade missions to Israel supported financially or administratively by his Department.
§ Mr. SainsburyDuring the financial year 1990–91, my Department provided financial support for three trade missions to Israel organised by the British overseas trade group for Israel. In the current financial year a further four such missions are due to receive support.