§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Taunton of 20 March, what his Department is doing to ensure that appropriate medium-sized and small companies are able to play a part in the reconstruction of Kuwait.
§ Mr. SainsburySmall and medium-sized companies are welcome to register their interest with my Department's Kuwait reconstruction co-ordination team. They will also be in a position to receive information from the British industry task force in Kuwait through the trade associations which are represented on the joint DTI/ industry subgroups covering the main sectors of reconstruction work. We see a major role for them in supplying the larger contractors.
In addition to the trade fair programme for the Gulf area it is likely that a number of trade fairs more directly associated with Kuwait will be organised, at which small and medium-sized firms will be expected to participate.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his replies to the hon. Member for Devon, North (Mr. Speller), of 8 March,Official Report, column 304, what interest has been indicated to (a) his projects and export division and (b) his overseas trade division's Kuwait desk from environmental consultancy companies seeking contracts in Kuwait to provide environmental and ecological restoration.
§ Mr. Sainsbury[holding answer 22 March 1991]: My Department has had approximately 5,000 inquiries from companies seeking work in the reconstruction of Kuwait including a number of environmental consultancy companies. Their details are being entered on to a computerised database, but until this is completed the full information requested will not be easily available. I will write to the hon. Gentleman when I have the information he requested.